yron J. Johnson, nutrition and wellness industry relations director for Access Business Group LLC, manufacturer of Nutrilite® vitamin and mineral supplements, was elected chairman of the International Alliance of Food/Dietary Supplement Associations (IADSA).
IADSA, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is an alliance of more than 50 dietary supplement associations spread across six continents. Created in 1998, IADSA provides regulatory and policy information on dietary supplements, and promotes dialogue on scientific and regulatory issues. More than 9,500 companies, including Access Business Group, are part of the IADSA member associations.

Johnson is an active participant in IADSA regulatory, scientific and advocacy affairs. He was nominated to the IADSA chairman post by members of the U.S. Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), one of the dietary supplement industry's leading trade associations headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Johnson held the position of CRN chairman in 2003 - 2004, and currently serves on the organization's board of directors.

"I am honoured to be elected to the position of IADSA Chair," said Johnson. "Over the years I have seen how effective the advocacy and communication techniques of IADSA can be, and I am proud to play a leadership role in some of the organization's many accomplishments."

At Access Business Group, a member of the Alticor Inc. family of companies, Johnson is responsible for nutrition and wellness regulatory laws. He also oversees regulations and corporate compliance matters, as well as industry relationships and trade association participation pertaining to food and dietary supplement policy matters.

In his prior position, Johnson was vice president and general counsel for the Nutrilite brand. He was an attorney for four years in private practice prior to joining Amway Corp., an Alticor subsidiary, in 1983.

Johnson received a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich. He earned a juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1977 and to the US District Court in 1979.

Johnson served as an adjunct law professor at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. He also taught at Davenport Business University in Grand Rapids, Mich., and at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, Mich.