About Us
The American Cotton Shippers Association is comprised of Cotton Merchants, Primary Buyers and Mill Service Agents who are members of four Federated Associations, located throughout the cotton belt.
ACSA was organized on July 8, 1924 to provide a united voice for the cotton merchandising trade of the United States:
ACSA’s member firms handle the majority of the U.S. cotton sold in domestic and foreign markets. The significant market involvement of ACSA members requires that the Association take an active part in promoting the increased use of cotton in the U.S. and throughout the world; establishing with other cotton trade organizations national and international standards for trade; collaborating with producer organizations throughout the cotton belt in formulating farm programs; and cooperating with government agencies in the administration of such programs.
Cotton merchants at every level of the marketing chain benefit. While cotton is a product of nature, how much is planted, by whom, and at what price is not always a market determination; it can be influenced by USDA.
The opportunity to participate in the formulation of ACSA policy, through input to, or service on, committees or Boards of Directors. The opportunity to voice concerns on numerous issues, to recommend policy changes in USDA regulations, or to change or enact legislation is available to each ACSA member the opportunity to participate fully in the affairs of ACSA.
Chairman’s Biography
Azeez Abdul Syed
Azeez Syed is the Managing Director & Regional Head – Americas of Olam Global Agri Pte. Ltd, Singapore and has been based in Dallas, Texas since December 2016. He oversees Olam Agri’s strategic business units for all business streams in the Americas Region. He is also a member of Olam Agri’s Executive Committee. He has over 26 years of experience in the cotton industry across diverse geographies, industry associations and international bodies.
Azeez began his career with Olam Group Limited in 1998, leading the company’s expansion and strategic transformation in the Central Asia and Mediterranean regions. He moved to Singapore in 2007 and has since held various leadership positions in Olam Group Limited, setting up trading and marketing operations in China, and managing Olam’s US, Brazil and India Cotton operations.
Prior to joining Olam, Azeez worked for five years with the Gillette group of companies in various sales and marketing roles and for one year with Grindwell Norton Ltd.
Azeez has been serving the Board of American Cotton Shippers Association since 2017 and has been part of the executive committee since 2022. He also serves as a Director on the Board of the National Cotton Council. Azeez is an active member of the International Cotton Association (ICA) and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2014. He was part of ICA’s executive committee from 2017 – 2022 and has served as the President of ICA from October 2019 to October 2021. He is also a member of the ICE Futures US Cotton Committee. Previously, Azeez has also served as the Chairman of Association of Cotton Merchants of Europe from 2010 – 2011.
Azeez holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India and a master’s in international business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi, India. He was born and raised in Visakhapatnam, India and he is married to Nisha Kerpal.
President’s Biography
William H. “Buddy” Allen
William H. “Buddy” Allen became the President/CEO of American Cotton Shippers Association on January 1, 2019. Mr. Allen also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the American Cotton Exporters Association as well as Chairman of the Committee for International Co-operation Between Cotton Associations. Additionally, Mr. Allen serves on the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
After earning his degree from the University of Mississippi, Mr. Allen gained Capitol Hill experience from both the Office of United States Senator Thad Cochran and his involvement in The Macon Edwards Company, a government affairs firm, where he provided service to ACSA. He is a partner in A&J Planting Company, a vertically integrated agribusiness in Tunica, Mississippi.
Mr. Allen is a native of Belzoni, Mississippi and resides in Tunica, Mississippi. He is married to the former Allison Johnson, and they have three daughters.
Officers and
Directors
- Azeez Syed, Chairman, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Darren Long, First Vice-Chairman, ECOM USA, LLC
- Nick Peay, Second Vice-Chairman, Louis Dreyfus Company
- Ernst D. Schroeder, Jr., Immediate Past Chairman, Jess Smith & Sons Cotton, Inc.
- William H. Jones, III, Treasurer, Louis Dreyfus Company
- William H. Allen, President & CEO, American Cotton Shippers Association
- Wesley Rentz, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Chris Alphin, Commonwealth Gin
- Krista Rickman, Cargill Cotton
- Neil Woods, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Brady Raindl, ECOM USA, LLC
- Ellen Batchelder, Cargill Cotton
- Kevin McDermott, Jess Smith & Sons Cotton, Inc.
- John Romines, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Raymond Faus, Omnicotton, Inc.
- H. Thomas Hayden, Jr., Louis Dreyfus Company
- Colin Isle, Viterra USA Agriculture LLC
- Jeff Johnson, Louis Dreyfus Company
- John King, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Leigh Pell, Louis Dreyfus Company
- Beau Stephenson, Omnicotton, Inc.
Become a Member
Application for membership in ACSA is handled through the four federated associations of ACSA, which represent the seventeen states throughout the cotton belt. Upon joining ACSA as a Merchant, Primary Buyer or Mill Service Agent member, you also become a member of the National Cotton Council.
