The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) has launched a search for its next president and CEO, with the leadership transition coming at a pivotal time as the organization shapes innovation and commerce across the fresh food landscape.
IDDBA’s board of directors has retained executive search firm Herd Freed Hartz to guide the selection process.
The incoming president and CEO will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for the nonprofit, which connects retailers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.
“The next president and CEO will build on a strong foundation to elevate IDDBA’s influence, expand member value and position the organization for its next phase of growth,” the committee stated.
Whoever is selected for the position will succeed former CEO David Haaf, who stepped down Feb. 26.
Chris Schwass, the association’s CFO, has been serving as acting CEO. He has 28 years of experience at the Madison-Wisconsin-based organization.
Position overview
Reporting to a 27-member board of directors, the president and CEO will oversee an organization with a staff of 21.
Key responsibilities include leading the continued evolution of IDDBA’s flagship annual tradeshow – the IDDBA Show conference and expo, which this year runs June 7-9 in Orlando, Florida – and strengthening the organization’s visibility and industry impact.
The ideal candidate will possess 10-15 years of senior leadership experience within an association or relevant industry sector. Success in the first 24 months will be defined by an aligned strategic direction, increased member engagement and the activation of pathways for sustainable growth.
“IDDBA stands as the authority in the dairy, deli and bakery sectors,” the search committee stated. “We are looking for a commercially-minded, servant leader with the heart to lead change with humility and the expertise to leverage emerging technologies and data to benefit our members.”
All confidential inquiries or expressions of interest should be directed to Fred Pabst, food/AG search practice leader at Herd Freed Hartz Executive Search, at [email protected]. A position specification is available for download on the IDDBA website.