FMI – The Food Industry Association is promoting Doug Baker to SVP of industry relations and chief collaboration officer, effective Dec. 1, succeeding Mark Baum, who held the role for 12 years.
Baker joined the Arlington, Virginia-based association in 2013 as VP of industry relations. Following his promotion, he will direct FMI’s work of bringing together retailers, wholesalers, product suppliers and other partners around shared industry priorities. He will oversee the association’s board-level committees, associate member councils and member communities focused on merchandising, supply chain, fresh foods, private brands, information technology and business continuity, along with related business development.
“The challenges and opportunities facing our industry increasingly require collaboration across the entire food marketplace,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and CEO. “Our ability to bring together our members and other industry partners around shared priorities is one of FMI’s greatest strengths. Doug will provide continuity in these efforts and help us build on that foundation by deepening engagement across our membership and turning collaboration into practical solutions that strengthen business performance, create greater member value and position our industry for continued growth.”
“Mark Baum leaves a lasting legacy at FMI after serving in this capacity for 12 years,” Sarasin added. “His leadership strengthened the trust our members place in this association, and I am grateful for his dedication and thought leadership.”
She added of Baker: “Doug is ready to step into this role, bringing experience on both the retail/wholesale and manufacturing sides of the industry, deep relationships across our membership and the credibility to keep this work moving forward.”
Before FMI, Baker spent more than two decades in retail and consumer products, including senior sales leadership roles at Federated Group, where he led a $1 billion private-brand business portfolio. Earlier, he held customer business and sales roles with Kraft/Nabisco and began his food industry career in retail operations with Fry’s Food Stores, a division of Kroger.