The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) today announced the appointment of David Thomas as Chief Lobbyist and Leticia Phillips as Representative for North America, both based at UNICA’s Washington, D.C. office. They replace Joel Velasco, who left UNICA in January to become Senior Vice-President for External Relations at California Biotech Company Amyris.

A seasoned strategist with almost two decades of experience in the Washington public policy arena, Thomas is a former Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for Vice-President Al Gore and Director of Congressional Relations at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). More recently, he served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. As a Senior Strategist with Washington lobbying firm Mehlman, Vogel, Castanetti, Thomas was directly involved with UNICA’s 2010 campaign against U.S. tariffs on imported ethanol.

In her continuing role overseeing Institutional and Government Affairs for North America since 2008, Phillips will now lead UNICA’s efforts as its Representative for North America on a variety of fronts in which UNICA is currently engaged.

Carolina Lessa will remain in her role as coordinator of communications and media relations efforts in North America.

Source: UNICA news release