Agribusiness leadership shakeup: 15 executive moves reshaping food and farm sector

Three CEO transitions, one founding-family succession and a high-profile departure at Driscoll's anchor the latest round of leadership changes across agribusiness, food processing and agricultural policy organizations, with effective dates spanning Nov. 1, 2024 to the first quarter of 2028.

Todd Kesner, who brings 30 years of extension experience, has been appointed interim associate dean of University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, effective Nov. 9. He currently serves as associate director and state 4-H program lead.

Interra International has named Thomas Isaf CEO and president, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed founder Stephen Isaf, who will become executive chairman. Thomas joined the company in 2006 and has held sales management and category leadership roles across its turkey, chicken, pork and dairy businesses. He was named president in 2024 and most recently oversaw global sales, supply chain and trade functions.

MustGrow Biologics has appointed Kevin Helash CEO, effective Nov. 1. His résumé runs deep in biologicals and inputs: CEO stints at Biotalys, Marrone Bio Innovations and Agrinos, plus senior executive positions at Agrium, now Nutrien. Corey Giasson, MustGrow's former CEO, has transitioned to chief operating officer.

What does the Driscoll's exit change for the berry business?

Soren Bjorn is departing Driscoll's after 20 years with the company, including a term as CEO from 2024 to 2026. He joined in 2006 and previously led Driscoll's of the Americas as president and served as senior vice president of international business and global technologies. Bjorn will launch Gefion Advisors and will remain an adviser to Driscoll's during the transition.

Sonoco has elected Ernest D. Haynes III president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, succeeding Howard Coker. Haynes has spent nearly 30 years with the packaging maker and currently leads its Global Consumer Packaging business.

Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. has named Jeff Carter its incoming president. Carter, currently senior vice president of sales and service, is expected to assume the presidency in the first quarter of 2028 as Chuck Wyant retires. He brings more than 30 years of experience within the Coca-Cola system.

Policy and legal moves signal shifting advocacy posture

Vylor, the advanced seed and genetics company spun off from Corteva Agriscience, has named Kurt Van Thomme chief legal officer and corporate secretary. He previously served as vice president, deputy general counsel and chief intellectual property counsel at Corteva, where he worked for more than seven years.

Franklin Davis has been promoted to senior vice president of federal affairs at American Beverage. He joined the organization in 2012 and most recently led the industry's legislative agenda and advocacy before Congress and federal agencies.

Eric Deeble has joined UPSIDE Foods as head of government relations. He previously served as deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA and as deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations, and he led policy efforts at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. He also served as a senior policy adviser to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. His move places a senior USDA regulatory hand inside a cultivated-meat firm as that sector faces federal scrutiny.

Tom Prior has been named head of strategy at the World Food Programme. He previously served as a special adviser to the executive director and co-founded and led Marinmoor, a global development consultancy.

The American Agricultural Law Association has named Paul Goeringer of the University of Maryland president-elect, and added Kristi Boswell of Alston & Bird and Austin Vincent of the Kansas Department of Agriculture to its board. Boswell brings more than a decade of agricultural policy experience, including service as a senior adviser to the agriculture secretary.

Marketing, logistics and communications appointments

Taylor Vazquez has joined the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and North American Blueberry Council as director of communications. She previously served as an account director at Noble West and held communications roles with World Wide Sires and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

Casey Tracey has been promoted to general manager of the Allen Lund Co.'s Los Angeles office, bringing 20 years of transportation industry experience. She joined the produce transportation broker in 2014 and previously served as assistant manager and operations manager.

Jake Peppiatt has been named global brand strategy lead, ruminants, at Zoetis, based in Dublin. He previously served as senior manager of U.S. cattle vaccines marketing and has more than seven years with the company, with earlier marketing roles at Merck and Signal Theory.

DMA Solutions promoted Marci Allen to executive vice president of client services and Hena Husain to senior social media manager. The agency hired Chandell Lattin as senior marketing manager and welcomed back Mary-Kate Anawaty as senior marketing specialist.

After eight years with PepsiCo, Pietro Antonio Tataranni is retiring as senior vice president and chief medical officer. He helped establish the company's Life Sciences organization, oversaw its R&D Fellows Program and became its first chief medical officer. He serves on the boards of the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, Montai Health and Invaio Sciences.

The clustering of Jan. 1 start dates at Interra and Sonoco, combined with the USDA-to-industry pipeline visible in the Deeble appointment, suggests the coming quarter will bring further recalibration of leadership priorities across inputs, packaging and food policy.