Roberto Vélez Vallejo has been named the new CEO of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) during the LXXXI National Extraordinary Congress of Coffee Growers. Vélez Vallejo’s appointment follows an election campaign that began after the resignation of Luis G. Muñoz in May. The process started with the Coffee Growers Steering Committee selecting eight candidates from a list of 19 nominations. From the eight, the National Coffee Growers Committee shortlisted three candidates, Adriana Mejia Cuartas, Luis Guillermo Velez and Roberto Vélez Vallejo. The National Congress of Coffee Growers, the highest FNC decision-making body, elected Vélez Vallejo as head of the FNC. Josué Martínez, LXXXI National Extraordinary Congress of Coffee Growers President, spoke during the Congress on behalf of the country's coffee growers. “We have once again confirmed the characteristics of a strong and important organisation; one that is democratic, transparent and participatory,” said Martinez. In his acceptance speech, Vélez Vallejo thanked coffee growers for their trust in leading the most important agricultural guild in Colombia. The new CEO told the large audience that, as the leader of the FNC, he was committed to working with coffee growers for the sustainability of the coffee-growing industry. “We will continue moving forward to achieve our objectives,” said Vélez Vallejo. “Colombian coffee growers can rest assured that every day we are working toward improving their livelihood – coffee growers are the driving force behind all of our actions.” Additionally, Vélez Vallejo thanked the Colombian government for supporting the coffee sector and facilitating the process of electing the new FNC CEO. The Colombian Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Mauricio Cardenas, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to seeing the FNC succeed, expressing his confidence that Vélez Vallejo knows both the foundation of coffee growing and its institutional value. The FNC’s 11th CEO is an economist from the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, with postgraduate education at the University in Brighton in England, and New York University. Vélez Vallejo has worked at the FNC for 20 years. His roles have included serving as the Director in Asia and the Chief Commercial Officer.
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