ATCHISON, Kan., August 8, 2011—MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq/MGPI) has announced the appointment of Jim Artzer to the position of director of supply chain finance. Artzer comes to MGPI with over 22 years of experience in accounting and finance roles.  He most recently served as senior director of general accounting for Mylan Pharmaceutical, Inc., a global generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, Morgantown, W.Va.

"Jim’s extensive finance background makes him a great fit in his new role as director of supply chain finance at MGPI,” said Scott Phillips, vice president of supply chain and operations.  “His ability to work effectively with personnel across the entire spectrum of our supply chain structure is a definite asset. I am highly confident in his capabilities to successfully identify and track productivity initiatives.”

Artzer principally is responsible for providing support for Phillips and Don Tracy, vice president of finance and chief financial officer. This includes monitoring standard costing processes and costs related to production, inventory management, procurement and capital expenditure projects.

From 1995 to 2010, Artzer was employed by Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Pfizer. He began there as cost accounting manager, in which he was responsible for plant accounting activities for all the company’s United States manufacturing plants and third party manufacturers.  He later served as plant controller, managing the integration of financial processes and the implementation of ERP systems for a newly acquired plant in Charles City, Iowa. From 1997 to 2005, Artzer was director of finance, with responsibility for the company’s accounting processes including the supervision of controllers and staff at three plant locations. He then served as director of global supply chain finance from 2005 to 2010 at the company’s Overland Park, Kan. location.

Prior to joining Fort Dodge Animal Health, Artzer was employed with Bioproducts, Inc., a division of Mitsui, LTD, in Brecksville, Ohio, for six years. First, he served as a staff accountant at the company’s Louisville, Ky., location. Next, he was named controller, managing the eastern division accounting operation in Manson, Iowa. Artzer then served as product manager for a year, establishing the management of a newly acquired dairy feed ingredients business in Brecksville, Ohio.

Artzer holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Iowa State University, Ames, where he graduated in 1990.

About MGP Ingredients

In business since 1941, MGP Ingredients, Inc. is a recognized pioneer in the development and production of value–added, grain-based starches, proteins and food grade alcohol products for the branded packaged goods industry. The company has facilities in Atchison, Kan., and Onaga, Kan. that are equipped with the latest technologies to assure high quality products and to maintain efficient production and service capabilities.