Erik Hansen

International Trade and Diplomacy:

• Collaborated with Government of Japan officials, local farm leaders, and U.S. agricultural industry groups to gather critical market intelligence that led to greater access for U.S. food, beverages, and agricultural products.

• Led negotiation for the purchase of U.S. rice valued at $50 million with AEON, Japan's largest grocery store chain.

• Organized a multi-city "USA Food and Beverage Roadshow" in Japan, leading $3 million in additional sales.

Executive Leadership and Team Development:
• Led executive meetings with host government and VIP U.S. delegations, mediating complex bilateral relationships and ensuring favorable market access.
• Managed and oversaw more than $50 million in annual programmatic and operational budgets, exercising strong stewardship that led to impressive returns on investment of high-stakes trade and marketing activities.
• Supervise diverse local and American teams across multiple offices in Japan, delegating meaningful responsibility and authority, and empowering each through strategic mentorship.

Strategic Planning and Project Management:

• Organized USA Pavilions at major Japanese food and beverage trade shows where more than 100 U.S. exhibitors achieved sales surpassing $70 million.

• Developed and executed ten marketing and promotional events showcasing American food, beverages, and ingredients at Japanese luxury hotels, restaurants, culinary institutes, and grocery store chains that led to on-site sales of $2 million.

• Prepared presentations and organized site visits for dozens of VIP delegations from U.S. agricultural industry groups, including the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Strategic Planning and Project Management:

• Organized USA Pavilions at major East China food and beverage trade shows where more than 100 U.S. exhibitors achieved sales surpassing $150 million.

• Developed and executed ten marketing and promotional events showcasing American food, beverages, and ingredients at Japanese luxury hotels, restaurants, culinary institutes, and grocery store chains that led to on-site sales of $25 million.

• Set up the first USA Pavilion at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), where U.S. exhibitors signed contracts with Chinese partners exceeding $450 million.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

• Represented FAS China publicly, briefing ambassadors, cabinet-level officials (USDA, Department of State, Department of Commerce), members of Congress, state governors, and trade industry leaders.

• Wrote, edited, and approved more than 50 targeted Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) public reports, conveying critical global market intelligence and trends in East China for U.S. agricultural industry and USDA decisionmakers.

Supervisory and Office Management:

• Supervised 23 Foreign Agricultural Affairs Officers and 53 local staff members working in 13 countries in South Asia.

• Oversaw $75 million budget that funded these offices and ensured that the funds were used responsibly and met all USDA regulations.

Project Management:

• Recruited dozens of U.S. trade delegations to the countries in my region, and supported our officers in organizing specialized itineraries that included business meetings, trade show participation, and retail site visits.

International Trade and Diplomacy:
• Led sustained diplomacy with the Costa Rica Minister of Agriculture, securing greater market access for U.S. fresh potatoes, beef, and poultry meat. My efforts ensured $63 million of trade continued without issues.
• Initiated seminar series in Panama to brief Ministry of Agriculture negotiators on science-based agricultural policy, improving alignment of priorities and mutual understanding of underlying interests.

• Implemented and oversaw $20 million of USDA capacity building and food aid programs in Nicaragua.

• Managed budgets effectively in the three offices that I supervised in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vladivostok to ensure optimal use of U.S. government funds, while maintaining financial stability.
• Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring full compliance with USDA regulatory requirements.
• Facilitated cross-functional collaboration across all three offices for improved decision-making processes within our organization.

Diplomacy and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Led more than a dozen senior congressional delegations, orchestrating seamless communication among officials, security personnel, and event organizers.
• Co-led U.S.-Mexico Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations, prompting acknowledgment and rapid examination of live cattle and corn shipments.

Policy Advocacy and Marketing:

• Organized USA Pavilions at five major trade shows throughout Mexico, where more than 100 U.S. exhibitors recorded sales of more than $145 million over two years.

• Developed Innovative marketing strategies, including high-profile U.S. chef seminars and food festivals, and strategically promoted U.S. products with market access in Mexico.

Diplomacy and Market Outreach:
• Incorporated U.S. food ingredients and American guest judge on “Top Chef Russia,” generating millions of primetime views, celebrating U.S. food and beverages.
• Engaged with Russian Ministry of Agriculture officials to develop new health certificates for U.S. live horses, live pigs, bovine semen, and poultry breeding stock.
• Negotiated with Russia's Chief Veterinary Officer to resolve market access issues impacting $825 million of U.S. poultry exports.