After 24 years with the Alberta Turkey Producers (ATP), Greg Smith has retired from his role of executive director. Former assistant executive director Cara Dary has accepted his position as of June 1, 2012.

“I am proud to have served the board for the last 24 years. I have had the opportunity to watch and participate as the Alberta turkey industry has evolved. We as a board continually worked at and improved marketing and allocation systems to better serve the producers and processors,” said Smith in a media release.

Smith was the third general manager of the Alberta Turkey Producers. He was the longest-serving manager under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act and at the Turkey Farmers of Canada.

New executive director Cara Dary brings six years’ experience working for both the private and public sector implementing and managing HACCP-based on-farm food safety and animal health programming. She has worked for ATP as the assistant executive director for the last year.

Pfizer separates animal health unit

Pfizer Inc. plans to separate its animal health unit into a stand-alone company, a move Wall Street expected as the largest U.S. drug maker focuses more intently on its core pharmaceuticals business.

Pfizer said on Thursday that preparations were under way for a public offering of a minority stake in the new animal health company, which would be called Zoetis.

The business, which generated revenue of about $4.2 billion last year, sells medicines, vaccines and other products for livestock and pets. It has more than 9,000 employees and markets products in more than 120 countries.

Pfizer said it would provide details of the proposed IPO (new stock offering) in the coming months, when it reports second-quarter earnings.

New York-based Pfizer, which agreed in April to sell its baby formula business to Nestlé SA for $11.85 billion, had also been shopping its animal health unit since last year. But chief executive officer Ian Read has said in recent months that any separation of the animal health business would probably be in the form of an IPO, to avoid hefty taxes.