BIO Announces Appointment of Brian Baenig to Lead Food & Agriculture Section

Washington, D.C. (August 26, 2015) – Today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced that long-time agriculture policy expert Brian T. Baenig will be joining BIO as Executive Vice President, Food & Agriculture Section.

“We are extremely excited to have Brian join BIO,” said Jim Greenwood, President & CEO of BIO.  “Brian is a seasoned manager, with a deep understanding of how Washington works.  He knows how to get big things done both in Congress and in the Administration.  His leadership at USDA and work in the Senate will be critical in helping ensure that innovative food and agriculture companies have the policy and regulatory environment needed to better heal, fuel and feed a growing planet.  Brian is well respected by policy leaders across our industry and across Washington, and we look forward to having Brian lead this important sector of our work.”

Baenig comes to BIO from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), where he most recently served as Chief of Staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack.  In that role, Baenig was responsible for general management of the USDA’s programs and processes and the oversight of approximately 97,000 career, non-career and seasonal employees with an annual budget of $155 billion.

Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, Baenig served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations and Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the USDA.  Before joining USDA, Baenig was Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.  He also served as Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT); as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee; and as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN).  

Baenig will join BIO on August 31, 2015.