The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) has hired a chief executive officer as the organization prepares for the retirement of long time executive vice president Dennis Laycraft.

Andrea Brocklebank will become the new CCA Chief Executive Officer in early March. Currently, Brocklebank is the Executive Director of the Beef Cattle Research Council. The Beef Cattle Research Council is a division of the Canadian Cattle Association.

Brocklebank joined the CCA in 2004 and held various roles with Canfax before becoming the BCRC executive director in 2009.

CCA President and Manitoba cattle producer Tyler Fulton  says Brocklebank’s proven track record of strategic decision making and leadership skills will help ease the senior leadership transition. This year is especially important with the upcoming review of the Canada/US/Mexico free trade agreement.

Brocklebank was raised on a southern Alberta farm, which she and her husband now manage. She also has a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Saskatchewan.

Tracey Herbert has been appointed as Interim Director of the Beef Cattle Research Council, effective March 1st. Herbert has been with the BCRC since 2011.