Gene Nemechek of Wilson, N.C. has been appointed to serve as the interim CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council, effective Sept. 11. He will step in for former CEO Andy Curliss, who has accepted a corporate affairs position with Smithfield Foods, while the board of directors searches for a permanent replacement.

Nemechek, a respected swine veterinarian, has been involved in the pork industry for more than 30 years. He is a past president of the National Pork Board (2010) and North Carolina Pork Council and has served on the NCPC's board of directors for the past five years as an industry representative.

"Dr. Nemechek is highly respected throughout the pork industry and his experience with the checkoff programs makes him the right person to step in as interim CEO while we pursue a new leader of the North Carolina Pork Council," says NCPC President Jim Lynch of Wayne County. "We appreciate all that Andy Curliss has accomplished for our organization and look forward to continue working with him in his new role."

Nemechek recently retired from Zoetis, a leading animal health company that produces medicine and vaccinations for livestock.

The NCPC board of directors has established a search committee to identify the next leader of the organization. It expects to appoint a new CEO before the end of the year.

Source: North Carolina Pork Council, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.