ELMHURST, ILL. — The American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) announced the appointment of Patricia Smith as its incoming chief executive officer and president.

She will begin serving as CEO-elect and president-elect on May 19, ahead of officially stepping into the full role on July 1.

Smith brings more than 30 years of experience in the dairy industry, with a strong background in strategic planning, sales, marketing, finance, operations and supply chain management. Her visionary leadership and commitment to integrity, courage, and excellence has driven significant growth and transformation in every organization she has led, according to ADPI. 

In her new role, Smith will lead ADPI in its ongoing mission to expand the global utilization of dairy ingredients. She will be responsible for guiding the institute’s technical, commercial and educational initiatives, with a focus on driving innovation and supporting industry advancement.

The organization highlighted her proven ability to develop successful business strategies, build high-performing teams and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders is expected to play a crucial role in ADPI’s continued evolution.

ADPI anticipates that her leadership will bring fresh energy to the organization, opening up new opportunities and setting the stage for future accomplishments.