Cary Sifferath has been promoted from senior director of global programs to vice president at the U.S. Grains Council.
“Cary’s 28 years of experience at USGC will serve as a steady pillar for the entire organization as we move forward in ever dynamic markets and geopolitical situations affecting trade of the products we market globally,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand.
“The depth of knowledge on international markets and trade that Cary brings to the executive department will serve us all well.”
Sifferath was initially hired as manager of international operations for Asia in 1993. His trajectory with USGC then took him to USGC's Kuala Lumpur office and began what would be 19 years spent running four of USGC’s overseas offices, in Malaysia, Japan, China and Tunisia.
Still managing the Tunisia office, he moved back to Washington in 2014 and became senior director of global programs in the summer of 2015.
Over his long tenure, Sifferath has developed a vision for USGC’s work, and he looks forward to implementing that in his new role.
“I look forward to working with our board, our members and our global staff to bring my experience in market development and global operations into my new role as vice president,” Sifferath said.
“Leadership will be vital for USGC as global trade policies and trade flows are continuing to change and USGC needs to stay on the leading edge of policies and trade flows changes as they affect exports of feed grains in all forms.”
As vice president, Sifferath will supervise all overseas offices and operations regarding the promotion of U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, co-products and ethanol for USGC.
Looking back over his time at USGC, Sifferath remembers working through events including the Southeast Asian economic crisis, the Arab Spring in North Africa, U.S. ethanol’s evolution around the world and the growth of fledging markets, like Vietnam, into thriving ones.
“To be involved on the ground floor and to see what kind of market it has become today, that’s something that’s been a strong part of my experience at USGC,” he said.
“And you always think, where is the next South Korea? Where is the next Vietnam? Is it Myanmar, Bangladesh, Tanzania, another country?”
