WASHINGTON — Thomas N. Sleight has been named president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Grains Council (U.S.G.C.). He succeeds Thomas C. Dorr, who is retiring.

Mr. Sleight joined the U.S.G.C. in 1983 and has held various roles both in the Washington headquarters and overseas. After leaving for stints with other agricultural organizations, he returned to the U.S.G.C. in November 2010 as vice-president of operations and membership.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dorr will retire from day-to-day executive duties, but will continue on a part-time basis with the council as a consultant focusing on a number of long-range initiatives begun during his tenure. He has been with the U.S.G.C. since 2009 and earlier was Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development in the George W. Bush administration.

“Tom Dorr has made a tremendous contribution to the council, especially in reorienting us to emerging markets and new opportunities,” said Wendell Shauman, chairman of the U.S.G.C. “Tom’s leadership has been responsible for the adoption of a new strategic plan, the beginning of a global realignment of the council’s assets, and very productive engagements at a policy level with China and other countries around the world.”