March 26/St. Louis/Press Release -- Larry Fernandes from Ingredion Incorporated has been elected president of the International Stevia Council (ISC).

Larry Fernandes is vice president Global Beverage, general manager Sweetener & Industrial Solutions North America for Ingredion Incorporated, formerly Corn Products International, and has served on the board of the ISC for the past two years.

"I am honored to have been elected president of the ISC, the leading voice of the stevia industry," stated Larry Fernandes. "The ISC has been extremely active in communicating and educating on stevia, this new plant-derived and calorie-free ingredient that helps the food and beverage markets reduce calories naturally in formulating finished consumer products. For 2013, the ISC has an ambitious agenda focusing on enhanced communication and education activities on the benefits of stevia, on regulatory activities and on expanding its membership to all stakeholders in this exciting new global industry. We are confident that the ISC strategy will continue leading the effective future development of the stevia industry worldwide."

As president, Fernandes is supported by a board of directors comprising Mark Brooks of Cargill, Carl Horn of Real Stevia, William Mitchell of PureCircle and Sebastian Winkelhaus of Verdure Science.

"A major strength of the ISC is the deep knowledge and expertise in the stevia business of its board of directors coupled with the quality of ISC's members, representing the leading stevia extracts producers in the world," stated Fernandes "I look forward to working with them to enhance the visibility of stevia as a mainstream natural ingredient across all food and beverage categories."