The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) has appointed Martha Scott Poindexter as chief operating officer. As COO, Poindexter reports to USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden, effective July 8, 2021. 

Among other duties, Poindexter will be Harden's strategic thought partner, provide oversight of USDEC's senior leadership team and lead the organization's efforts to accelerate growth, strengthen operational performance, and foster innovation.

Harden said USDEC would benefit from Poindexter's strong global agriculture and management experience and her established reputation of managing people's strengths to promote collaboration, consistency and synergy.

"We are pleased that Martha Scott will take on this major leadership role at USDEC," said Harden. "Martha Scott has already demonstrated leadership and success in executing strategies that have had major impacts in the private and public sector. I look forward to having Martha Scott's skill, expertise, and knowledge impact the success of our members and the dairy industry more broadly."

Poindexter brings high-level global business experience to USDEC. She spent six years at agribusiness giant Bunge as vice president of government and industry affairs. There she navigated a complicated web of U.S. policy issues, legislation, and regulation with China, the EU, Southeast Asia, and other regions to advance the company's export and commodity trading operations. Poindexter also worked with Monsanto (before its acquisition by Bayer) as director of government relations.

Poindexter's government experience is just as impressive. She most recently served as minority staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, working for Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas. She has also served as majority and minority staff director of the Senate Agriculture Committee and as staff director for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Poindexter is the first female to lead both the agriculture and intelligence committees, writing numerous farm bills and other significant agriculture, nutrition, and intelligence legislation.

"I am delighted to join USDEC to leverage my global affairs experience on behalf of USDEC's member companies and the entire U.S. dairy industry," said Poindexter.

Poindexter has deep agricultural roots, growing up in the Mississippi Delta on a cotton, rice, and soybean farm. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University and currently lives in Alexandria, Va.