AFIA Board of Directors Installs Leigh Ann Sayen as New Chair
Leigh Ann Sayen Named Chair of American Feed Industry Association Board
ARLINGTON, VA. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) board of directors recently installed Leigh Ann Sayen, chief executive officer of The Peterson Co., as its new chair during its annual spring meeting. The meeting, held from May 15 to 16, saw the board conducting official business, choosing leadership, and advocating for animal food industry policy priorities on Capitol Hill.
In her new role, Sayen expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her and highlighted the importance of representing the AFIA at national and international levels. She also commended the board for their dedication to standing up for the industry on Capitol Hill, emphasizing the ongoing work needed to advance the animal food industry’s mission of feeding the world more sustainably.
Sayen takes over from Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., vice president of global regulatory affairs at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., who will now serve as chair of the Institute for Feed Education and Research’s (IFEEDER) board of trustees. During his tenure as AFIA chair, Gonzalez oversaw the planning and execution of key industry events such as the Executive Leadership Summit and Rising Leaders program.
The board also voted to accept the nomination of Dan Meagher, president and CEO of Novus International, Inc., as chair-elect for the 2025-26 AFIA fiscal year. Additionally, several new members were appointed to serve three-year terms on the board.
The spring meeting included advocacy efforts with over 35 US Senate and House offices on legislative priorities such as the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act (Innovative FEED Act) and the Enteric Methane Innovation Tools for Lower Emissions and Sustainable Stock Act (EMIT LESS Act).
Overall, the AFIA board expressed gratitude to outgoing members for their service and highlighted the organization’s commitment to advancing the animal food industry. Stay tuned for more updates from the pet food sector.
