Janet Fields, director of risk management at John S. James Co., was elected April 18 the new National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America president, replacing Amy Magnus, who will now be chairman of the board. Fields has spent her whole career at John S. James Co., and has been a licensed customs broker since 1988.

Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, assistant U.S. trade representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy, has told industry representatives in her sector that she's retiring. Corn Refiners Association CEO John Bode said farmers, ranchers and agribusiness companies are grateful for her public service. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative didn't comment

James Holbein retired as director of the International Trade Commission’s Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (TATA) in early February, an ITC spokesperson said. In that role, he had been responsible for maintaining and publishing the Harmonized Tariff Schedule since 2014. Holbein is now listed as of counsel at Braumiller Law Group. Cathy DeFilippo, director of the ITC’s Office of Operations, is now acting director of TATA, the spokesperson said. The director of TATA reports to the director of Operations.

Travis Skinner, who was previously a senior counselor to the CBP commissioner, is now director of Trade Modernization, said John Leonard, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs, during the April 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting.

Valarie Neuhart was named the deputy executive director of the Office of Trade Relations, Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said during the April 15 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting. Neuhart will continue to be the acting executive director in OTR, he said.

Ana Hinojosa, who previously served as a World Customs Organization director, is the “newly appointed Executive Director for the Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate” at CBP, according to a Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee document.

Thompson Hine hired Francesca Guerrero, previously with Winston & Strawn, as a partner in the firm's International Trade practice, it said in a news release. “Guerrero brings to the firm extensive experience advising companies on compliance with export controls, sanctions, import regulations, and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,” the firm said.

Hogan Lovells hired Kelly Ann Shaw, previously deputy assistant for International Economic Affairs and deputy director of the National Economic Council at the White House, the firm said in a news release. Shaw will be a partner in the firm's International Trade and Investment practice, it said.

Boomerang Carnets hired Andrew Shiles, previously senior director of North America Trade Compliance at CEVA Logistics, as chief operating officer, Boomerang said in a news release.

The White House has nominated Michael Nemelka, currently special adviser to the U.S. trade representative, to be deputy USTR for investment, services, labor, environment, Africa, China and the Western Hemisphere. The USTR is about to start free trade agreement negotiations with Kenya, which would be its first sub-Saharan Africa FTA (see 2003170061). C.J. Mahoney currently holds the deputy USTR position Nemelka would fill. He was confirmed March 1, 2018.