NCBA names Roberts as CEO

Forest L. Roberts, who has been involved in beef products in the animal health industry for more than 15 years, has been named chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Assn. (NCBA), according to an announcement this weekend. Roberts, 42, succeeds Terry Stokes and will begin his new position Jan. 20 in time for this year's Annual Cattle Convention & Trade Show and NCBA's annual business meeting Jan. 28-31. Roberts grew up on a family-owned livestock operation in Uvalde, Texas, that included a retail meat market for locally grown, corn-fed beef and pork. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina. He has held several marketing and sales positions for animal health companies, beginning with Upjohn Animal Health in 1992 and then with its two successor companies, Pharmacia Animal Health and Pfizer Animal Health. He joined Elanco Animal Health in 2004, where he has been manager of the beef business. He was one of more than 70 applicants for the CEO position and one of two recommended by a producer search committee to NCBA's officers, according to the announcement....