Harden is only the third president and CEO to lead USDEC since its founding by DMI in 1995 and is its first female chief executive.
Rosemont, Ill.-based Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), Arlington, Va., announced the promotion of Krysta Harden from chief operating officer (COO) to president and CEO of USDEC.
Harden was named USDEC COO in May 2020. During that time, she continued her role as executive vice-president of global environmental strategy for DMI, which manages the national dairy checkoff for 34,000 dairy farmers. Harden succeeds former USDEC President and CEO Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed as secretary of agriculture in the Biden administration, the organizations said.