ARLINGTON, VA. – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced its president and chief executive officer, Jim Mulhern, is set to retire at the end of 2023, following 10 years of leading the organization.

NMPF’s board of directors unanimously voted June 7 to name Gregg Doud its next president and CEO. In September, he will join the organization as chief operating officer, and then take over when Mulhern retires.

“Dairy farmers across the nation are pleased to endorse a true champion of agriculture, someone who both understands the hard work we do and the opportunities and challenges we face both here and abroad,” said Randy Mooney, chairman of the NMPF board. “NMPF has long been blessed with leadership that’s been able to take its advocacy for dairy to a higher level. We strongly believe that Gregg Doud more than amply provides the expertise, the background and the passion we will need as we navigate a challenging but promising new era.”

Doud enters his new role with 30-plus years of experience in agricultural policy and economics. Currently, he works for Aimpoint Research, a global intelligence firm specializing in agriculture and food. From 2018 to 2021, he served as chief agricultural negotiator for the US Office of the Trade Representative. Past roles also include time as president of the Commodity Markets Council, senior professional staff on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and chief economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“From the policy arena to new technologies, there are many great new opportunities for dairy producers at home and internationally,” Doud said. “It is a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity in these exciting times to lead NMPF, one of Washington’s oldest, most prestigious and well-respected agricultural trade associations.”

NMPF shared that Doud grew up on a 1,000-acre grain, hog and cattle farm near Mankato, Kan. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in animal science and a master’s in agricultural economics.

Mulhern’s career covers 45 years, with work in both United States agriculture and dairy policy. NMPF said that upon taking on his leadership role in 2013, he guided the organization through two farm bills and the COVID-19 crisis.

“Directing the policy efforts of the nation’s dairy farmers and their cooperatives has been the highlight of my professional career,” Mulhern said.

He first got started on Capitol Hill in Washington in 1982 and began his first stint with NMPF in 1985. In 1990, he became chief of staff to Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl. He went on to become a partner at international communications firm Fleishman-Hillard and managing partner of life sciences communications and public affairs firm Watson/Mulhern LLC.

“My hope, all those years ago when I first came to Washington, was to make a difference and remember where I came from,” Mulhern said. “Being part of the agricultural policy community here in Washington and working with and on behalf of many great people in the dairy community across the country has enabled me to achieve both goals.”