East-West Seed announces appointment of Dr. Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey as Group Head, Public Affairs

East-West Seed, a leading tropical vegetable seed company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey as Group Head, Public Affairs, effective 1st September 2023. Dr. May will bring her extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, government relations, policy-making, and public affairs management, most recently from the Asia Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), where she served as Executive Director and CEO.

″We are thrilled to welcome Dr. May to East-West Seed,″ said Maaike Groot, Global Head, Communications and Public Affairs. ″Her arrival signals our strong ambition to build upon our reputation and know-how globally.″

In her role as Group Head, Public Affairs, Dr. May will be responsible for developing and implementing public affairs strategies and initiatives. She will also monitor and advise on industry issues and policy changes and collaborate with all stakeholders to create an impactful and equitable engagement.

″I'm delighted to take on the Group Head of Public Affairs role at East-West Seed and contribute my knowledge and experience toward enhancing the lives of smallholder farmers," said Dr. May ″I look forward to collaborating with all our stakeholders to encourage meaningful and equitable engagement with farmers and external partners.″

Along with this development, Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc will be taking on a new role as Group Head,
Partnerships and Alliances from 1st September 2023. She will be responsible for identifying,
developing, and nurturing strategic connections while representing EWS at the highest international level in multilateral organizations.

About East-West Seed

Founded by Dutch seedsman Simon Groot in 1982, East-West Seed has become one of the world's leading vegetable seed companies in Asia and has a strong presence in Africa and Latin America. East-West Seed is committed to its mission of improving livelihoods for vegetable farmers, the company has focused on developing tropical vegetable varieties adapted to local growing conditions and educating farmers on production and farming skills. Ranked at the top of the Access to Seeds Index for South and Southeast Asia, East-West Seed was also named number 28 on Fortune’s Change the World list of companies doing good. Headquartered in Nonthaburi, Thailand, the company employs over 2,800 people and has set up 20 research and development facilities in nine different countries, exporting to over 75 tropical nations and reaching close to 20 million farmers worldwide.