USSEC will separate the animal and aquaculture utilizations under dedicated leadership for each of these sectors.

Morgan Cheatham is appointed Director, Aquaculture and will be responsible for differentiating and elevating a preference for U.S. Soy in aquaculture globally. Cheatham joined USSEC in 2024 as the Animal and Aquaculture Manager. Before joining USSEC, Cheatham worked in aquaculture operations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Cheatham earned her Ph.D. in aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

With the addition of this new director position, Tom D’Alfonso is now Director, Animal Nutrition, allowing him to be solely focused on the global animal feed sector, the largest end-user industry for U.S. soybeans and soybean meal. Previously, D’Alfonso had global director-level responsibility for both aquaculture and animal nutrition.

The changes contribute to a new regional model that enhances alignment across markets and expands opportunities for U.S. Soy worldwide.

East Asia (combining Greater China, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia)

Carlos Salinas – Executive Director

Timothy Loh – Regional Director

Middle East, North Africa & South Asia (MENASA)

Kevin Roepke – Executive Director

Europe & Americas

Rosalind Leeck – Managing Director

Sub-Saharan Africa

Brent Babb – Executive Director (also leading Soy Excellence Centers, SECs)

The updates are aimed at ensuring USSEC remains positioned to meet its strategic goals in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. With shifts in consumer demand, geopolitical dynamics, and market access challenges, the new structure reflects USSEC’s commitment to building resilience and maximizing value for U.S. soybean farmers, industry partners, and international customers.