SIMPSON NAMED AAEI PRESIDENT

SIMPSON NAMED AAEI PRESIDENT    John P. Simpson has been appointed president of the American Association of Exporters and Importers, effective Dec. 4. The appointment was announced Friday at AAEI's meeting in Chicago.
   Simpson replaces Eugene Milosh who retired from the 79-year-old industry group Oct. 1.
   Simpson has spent 35 years in the U.S. government working in various director roles in the Agriculture and Treasury departments. He most recently was deputy assistant secretary of Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement at Treasury.
   “John is highly capable and extremely bright. He's very well grounded in our industry,” said Michael D. Laden, director of import administration and customs compliance at Target Corp. and chairman of AAEI.
   Richard J. Salamone, customs manager for BASF Corp. and chairman emeritus of AAEI, said the group's search for a new president was rigorous. Among the qualifications each candidate was asked to give a detailed description of how the association should be run in the future.
   Simpson's appointment is a major windfall for AAEI. The 500-member association is focused on developing its future agenda.
   “I set out to make positive changes at AAEI,” Laden said. “I'm making good on my promise.”