Viterra Inc. has announced the promotions of two of its executives - Ray Dean has been appointed Senior Vice-President, General Counsel/Corporate Secretary while Colleen Vancha has been promoted to Senior Vice-President Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs.

Vancha oversees investor relations, public affairs and brand management programs for Viterra. She joined the company in 1988 and established the Investor Relations Division in 1996 when the company went public. Vancha played a key role in the company's restructuring, recapitalisation and subsequent acquisition of Agricore United. Recently, she has taken on a more global focus in working to increase the visibility of Viterra among a variety of international stakeholders. Vancha is a director and executive member of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute's Board, a director for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of its Finance Committee.

Dean joined Viterra in 2003 as Vice-President, General Counsel/Corporate Secretary. Prior to his appointment, he was a partner with Balfour Moss Barristers and Solicitors. From 1991 to 1996, he provided counsel for the BC Hydro and Power Authority as a solicitor specialising in contracts for both domestic and international power sales. Dean has significant experience in securities law and corporate governance matters and has been a key contributor to Viterra's transformation. Over the past year, he has been a key player in helping to shape the company's growth strategy, providing leadership in due diligence and integration planning activities.

Viterra Inc. is Canada's leading agribusiness, with extensive operations and distribution capabilities across Western Canada, and with operations in the US, Japan and Singapore. The company is diversified into sales and services of crop inputs and equipment, grain handling and marketing, livestock feed, agri-food processing and financial products.