WASHINGTON — The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) designated Idaho Milk Products chief executive officer Daragh Maccabee as the new chair for the IDFA executive council.
The association, which shared the names of the industry leaders who are joining the council as new members, also introduced its new vice chair of the executive council, Michigan Milk Producers Association CEO Joe Diglio.
IDFA noted that the executive council’s members are dairy foods industry executives who come together to focus on the association’s business and operations. The organization also named the new directors who will lead IDFA’s five industry segment boards and work with the executive council.
“These executives were selected for their outstanding leadership, business acumen and commitment to the future success of IDFA and the dairy industry in the United States,” IDFA president and CEO Michael Dykes said. “Their knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in guiding our legislative, regulatory, communications, membership and workforce services so that IDFA continues working in the best interest of our members. We’re excited to elevate and guide the industry to a new golden age for dairy.”
Both Maccabee and Diglio said they were honored to serve on the executive council.
Said Maccabee: “Our industry continues to excite me every day. There are so many things that unite us, and the platform of collaboration that IDFA provides, benefits our organizations individually and the industry as a whole. I look forward to working with Michael and the exceptional team at IDFA as we all work together towards an even better future for dairy.”
Added Diglio: “Alongside an exceptional group of leaders and talented team under Michael’s leadership, I look forward to working together to strengthen the industry and continue innovating the future of dairy."
Below are the IDFA executive council members and segment board directors announced in January:
Executive council officers (terms end January 2027)
Chair: Daragh Maccabee, CEO, Idaho Milk Products
Vice chair: Joe Diglio, president and CEO, Michigan Milk Producers Association
Secretary: Louie Gentine, CEO, Sargento Foods Inc.
Treasurer: Rich Draper, CEO, The Ice Cream Club, Inc.
Immediate past chair: Terry Brockman, chief business officer, Saputo USA
Fluid milk board (terms end January 2026)
Chair: Tim Kelly, SVP/GM, Shamrock Foods Company
Vice chair: Thomas d'Hemecourt, CEO, Diversified Foods Inc.
Ice cream board (terms end January 2026)
Chair: Andy Jacobs, CEO, Turkey Hill Dairy, Inc.
Vice chair: Richard Graeter, president & CEO, Graeter’s Ice Cream Company
Cheese board (terms end January 2026)
Chair: Kurt Epprecht, owner/vice president, cheese quality and dairy policy, Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc.
Vice chair: Sheryl Meshke, president and CEO, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Yogurt and cultured products board (terms end January 2026)
Chair: Courtney Bidney, director, labeling and regulatory compliance, General Mills
Vice chair: Elaina Luu, vice president, procurement, Saputo USA
Ingredients board (terms end January 2027)
Chair: Gustavo Acosta, director, global procurement, global supply operations, Abbott Nutrition
Vice chair: Kyle Jensen, vice president of sales and marketing, Hilmar
Executive council directors (terms end January 2028)
Jean-Philippe Asselin, president, cheese US, Agropur U.S. Operations
Trevor Farrell, executive vice president and president, US, Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Lance FitzSimmons, president & CEO, Leprino
Pierre Lorieau, SVP, chief legal officer, Lactalis USA
David Nelsen, group vice president of manufacturing, Albertsons Companies
Executive council directors (terms end January 2027)
Ralph Hoffman, executive vice president, supply chain and risk management, Schuman Cheese
Gary Kaneb, president/CEO, HP Hood LLC
Executive council directors (terms end January 2026)
Tim Doelman, CEO, fairlife, LLC
Jeff Gentine, president & CEO, Masters Gallery Food’s Inc.
Scott McGinty, CEO, Aurora Organic Dairy
Brian Phelan, CEO, Glanbia Nutritionals, Glanbia plc
Gold business partner representatives, executive council (term ending January 2028)
Betsy Erdelyi, managing director, BMO Harris Bank
Gold business partner representatives, executive council (term ending January 2026)
Seth Teply, president & CEO, US and Canada, Tetra Pak, Inc.
