Bonn, Germany
March 20, 2009After a
three-month worldwide search and review of dozens of qualified
applicants, the International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) selected
Markus Arbenz to serve as its next executive director. Arbenz,
currently the Executive Director of IFOAM member Bio Suisse,
will take up the leadership and management of operations and
oversee the 15 professional staff on 1 August 2009.
“Managing a complex organization like IFOAM takes vision,
diplomacy, energy, and leadership skill. Markus is just the
person for the job,” said Katherine DiMatteo, president of
IFOAM. “The hiring team was impressed with the way Markus
approaches challenges, his knowledge of and commitment to
Organic Agriculture, and his experience in managing people and
agricultural projects around the world.”
“I want sustainable land and animal use for the betterment of
all to be a reality this century, and working as IFOAM’s
executive director will give me an opportunity to help make that
vision a reality,” said Arbenz. “Working as Executive Director
of Bio Suisse has given me deep insight in all aspects of
leading a democratic organization. I look forward to using that
experience to keep a balance between the interests of all the
stakeholders and enacting the vision of transforming the whole
agricultural sector to sustainable organic practices. IFOAM has
always been a home for the Swiss organic stakeholders and I’ve
always been proud to be part. Now, I am excited to build links
with the people from the organic movement all over.”
With work experiences in Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Bosnia, Nepal, India, Bolivia, Ivory Coast, South Africa
and Israel, Arbenz literally brings a world of experience to the
position. He is a generalist in animal husbandry and
international co-operation who has not only been an organic
farmer raising endangered sheep, goat, pig, poultry and bee
breeds, but also served in key leadership positions. Arbenz’
achievements include increasing the brand recognition for the
Bio Suisse “bud” logo, planning and initial implementation of
the Improved Livelihoods to Rural Communities project for
Helvetas/Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) in rural
Afghanistan, and a serving as a visiting research fellow at the
Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre in Jakar, Bhutan. He
understands six languages, and plans to move to Bonn with his
wife and infant daughter.
IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic
movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 108
countries. The mission of International Federation of Organic
Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) is leading, uniting, and assisting
the organic movement in its full diversity. IFOAM’s goal is the
world-wide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically
sound systems that are based on the principles of organic
agriculture. |
|
