Kia Motors hired Christopher Wenk, previously chief trade lobbyist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as vice president of government affairs, Kia said in a news release.

Jason Kearns, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 1, was sworn in April 2 as a commissioner on the International Trade Commission, ITC said in a news release. His term expires Dec. 16, 2024.

Deleon Trade added Paulie Nichols as a broker audit specialist and Melissa Shanahan as a senior trade auditor, the company said. Nichols is a long-time customs broker, while Shanahan worked as an auditor at ICE and CBP before joining Deleon, it said.

The Internet Association hired Jordan Haas as director of trade and international policy, the association said in a news release. Haas previously "worked in the International Trade Administration where he provided strategic counsel to the Under Secretary for International Trade and the Office of the Secretary of Commerce," the association said.

PayCargo appointed Leonardo Hanon executive vice president, the company said in a news release. Hanon will oversee the recently announced online payment platform for imports in the U.S., the result an agreement between PayCargo and Cargo Network Services Corp. (see 1712070064). "He will be dedicated to working with the airlines on integrating the accounting and operational systems to communicate directly with the PayCargo-CNS system for real time payment information to be available," the company said. Hanon previously worked in the aviation industry, PayCargo said.

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke will retire in April, the Department of Homeland Security said in a news release. Duke became deputy DHS secretary in April last year (see 1704040039) and was the acting DHS secretary until Kirstjen Nielsen was confirmed in December (see 1712060005).

C.H. Robinson promoted Robert Biesterfeld, president of North American Surface Transportation at the company, to chief operating officer, the company said in a news release. Biesterfeld will continue to be president of NAST and will now also have responsibility over "Global Forwarding, Robinson Fresh, Europe Surface Transportation, and Managed Services, along with the company’s commercial operations and information technology," C.H. Robinson said.

Julia Friedman, former director for innovation and intellectual property at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, will join the House Ways and Means Democratic staff as a trade counsel. Friedman previously helped draft the intellectual property proposal for NAFTA renegotiations.

Federal Maritime Commission Acting Chairman Michael Khouri named Rachel Dickon secretary at the agency and Brian Troiano director of the Bureau of Enforcement, the FMC said in a Feb. 21 news release. Both worked at the FMC, Dickon in the Office of the Secretary and Troiano in the Bureau of Enforcement, prior to moving to their new roles with the agency, effective Feb. 18, the FMC said.

Akerman hired three lawyers and other members of the international trade practice group at the Gardere law firm in Dallas, Akerman said in a news release. Michelle Schulz and Elsa Manzanares, who co-chaired the Gardere international trade group, join as partners, while Kim Carlson is a practice group attorney, Akerman said. The firm also hired Troy Shaffer as senior trade advisor and Matthew Savage as trade analyst, it said.