Cynthia Whittenburg was named executive vice president of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s National Education Institute, the NCBFAA said in an emailed news release Jan. 23. Whittenburg, formerly of CBP before joining the NCBFAA institute as associate director, takes over as head of the institute from Kiko Zuniga, who led it for 12 years, the NCBFAA said.

Peter Robinson will step down June 30 as president of the U.S. Council for International Business, the business group said Jan. 11. “A search process has been initiated and will be led by USCIB Chair Eric Loeb (Salesforce) and other board members,” USCIB said.

Jonathan Stoel, international trade attorney, will serve as co-practice area leader for Hogan Lovells' international trade and investment practice along with Ajay Kuntamukkala, the firm announced. A partner in the practice area, Stoel focuses on "treaty-based claims, international investment protections, public international law, and international trade and customs issues," according to his bio on the firm's website. Stoel succeeds Deen Kaplan.

Timothy Brightbill, trade attorney at Wiley Rein, was named co-chair of the International Trade Practice with Alan Price starting Jan. 1, the firm announced. Brightbill has worked at Wiley for over 25 years, where his practice has centered on trade remedy matters, including antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, global trade policy and trade negotiations, the firm said. He also currently heads the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Services and Finance Industries and has taught at Georgetown University Law Center for 20 years.

Flexport, the global logistics company, announced the hiring of Teresa Carlson to be president and chief commercial officer. Carlson, who previously worked as an executive-in-residence at Microsoft, also was the leader of Amazon Web Services. The press release announcing her hire said she will oversee sales, marketing and the nonprofit arm, and will lead expansion into new markets, verticals and strategic partnerships.

The National Foreign Trade Council has hired John Pickel, a former trade director in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, as senior director for international supply chain policy. Pickel also previously served as counselor to the CBP commissioner for trade facilitation and trade enforcement and as a congressional affairs staffer. “John brings a remarkable wealth of expertise and experience in a range of supply chain, trade facilitation and customs issues that are critically important to our member companies,” NFTC President Jake Colvin said.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide named Jim Barber, retired in 2020 as chief operating officer for UPS, to its board of directors. At UPS, Barber “was responsible for international operations, U.S. operations, freight forwarding, distribution and logistics, freight brokerage, customs brokerage and more,” a news release said.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative this week announced the hiring of two new officials.

The International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association (ITCTLA) has elected Eric Namrow, intellectual property lawyer at Morgan Lewis, president for a one-year term, his firm announced. The ITCTLA works to improve Section 337 administration and inform attorneys, international trade officials and legislators about matters before the ITC. Namrow has served on the ITCTLA's executive committee for eight years in various roles and on various ITCTLA committees, including working groups on practice before CBP and the Court of International Trade.

Ian Cohen has been named deputy managing editor of International Trade Today, Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Mara Lee has been named senior editor.