Dairy Foods logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Dairy Foods logo
  • NEWS
    • DAIRY REGULATIONS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Butter
    • Cheese
    • Cultured Dairy
    • Frozen Desserts
    • Ice Cream/Novelties
    • Milk
    • Non-Dairy Beverages
    • Sales Data
    • Whey, Milk Powder
    • Dairy Alternatives
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Cocoa
    • Colors/Flavors
    • Cultures/Enzymes
    • Fiber
    • Gums, Stabilizers, and Texturants
    • Inclusions
    • Omegas/Lipids
    • Prebiotics
    • Probiotics
    • Sweeteners
    • Other
  • OPERATIONS
    • SUSTAINABILITY
    • Equipment
    • Processing
    • Packaging
    • Food Safety & Sanitation
    • Membrane Technology
  • MEDIA
    • Dairy Foods TV
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyers Guide
    • Dairy Plants USA
  • MEMBRANE FORUM
  • MORE
    • Associations
    • Dairy Foods' News & Views Newsletter
    • Blogs
    • Case Studies
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Dairy Foods Store
    • Market Research
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Tradeshows and Events
    • Strategy Guides
  • AWARDS
    • Dairy Plant of the Year Award
    • Breakthrough Award
    • Dairy Processor of the Year
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazines
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • SIGN UP!
    • Columnists
    • Dairy 100
    • State of the Industry Report
    Dairy Processor News

    Organic Valley names new CEO

    Outgoing CEO Bob Kirchoff announced his retirement to the cooperative in 2022 and his last day will be Jan. 31.

    Organic-Valley-logo.jpg
    January 12, 2023

    Organic Valley announced that Jeff Frank will join the cooperative as CEO, effective Jan. 23. Outgoing CEO Bob Kirchoff announced his retirement to the cooperative in 2022 and his last day will be Jan. 31. 

    "We are happy to welcome Jeff as our next CEO to guide organic food and farming into the future," said Steve Pierson, president of the Organic Valley Board of Directors and a dairy farmer from Oregon. "He shares our values and vision of nourishing people, animals and the earth through ethically sourced organic food from small family farms. He has the skills and experience to navigate the complex challenges facing small organic family farms."

    Frank joins Organic Valley from a 25-year career at Hormel Foods, where he held various senior roles in product and brand management. In 2009, he took on the role of vice president of marketing at MegaMex Foods. He was later promoted to president and CEO of MegaMex Foods, where he successfully led global supply chain efforts and brought successful consumer packaged goods to the market. 

    Frank holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and Spanish from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and an executive certificate from UCLA's Anderson School of Management. He has also completed the Executive Education program at Harvard Business School. Frank has departed from his role at Hormel as group vice president of grocery products to join Organic Valley as its third-ever CEO.

    "It's truly an honor for me to join the cooperative. I have a deep admiration for the mission of this organization, and I'm excited to collaborate to drive continued success into the future!" Frank said. "I look forward to working with the board, the farmer-members and teams across the cooperative and the industry to expand the impact of this revolutionary and independent food lighthouse, while staying true to its values and mission of producing ethically sourced food from organic family farms."

    "I am confident that Jeff will continue to uphold and enhance the reputation and values of Organic Valley," added outgoing Organic Valley CEO Bob Kirchoff said. "I think it's the perfect time for new leadership to guide the co-op's next phase of growth. I'm so proud of the hard work farmers and employees have put in to keep this cooperative moving forward. I am so grateful for having the opportunity the cooperative gave me and the support along the way."

    KEYWORDS: organic dairy

    Share This Story

    Looking for a reprint of this article?
    From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

    Recommended Content

    JOIN TODAY
    to unlock your recommendations.

    Already have an account? Sign In

    • Lifeway Organic Kefir in different flavors inside a refrigerated grocery shelf.

      Dairy Foods names Lifeway Foods 2025 Processor of the Year

      Lifeway Foods donates $10,000 to wildfire victims,...
      Dairy Foods & Beverages
      By: Brian Berk
    • Two female farmers are standing in a field, holding a large milk canister, looking at several cows at dairy farm.

      Honoring Women Leaders Shaping the Dairy Industry

      For the fourth consecutive year, Dairy Foods is proud to...
      Dairy Foods & Beverages
      By: Barbara Harfmann
    • Main feature for State of the Industry with dairy products album cover with a gradient circular--patterned backgorund.

      2025 State of the Dairy Industry

      Welcome to the 2025 State of the Industry report. For...
      Ingredients for Dairy Processors
    Manage My Account
    • eMagazine Subscription
    • Dairy Foods News & Views Newsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Manage My Preferences
    • Subscription Customer Service
    • Connect with Dairy Foods

    More Videos

    Popular Stories

    Close up of man adding Greek yogurt while preparing healthy smoothie in the kitchen.

    An expert guide to dairy and GLP-1 receptor agonists

    Splash of milk in form of arm muscle. 3D illustration.

    Protein: The Powerhouse of Health and Wellness

    Grilling foods

    Dairy’s Enduring Moment: Why Resilience and Renewal Define Today’s Dairy Story

    Nominate your product for the 2026 Dairy Foods Product of the Year!


    MTF webinar


    Food Safety webinar

    Events

    July 8, 2026

    Membrane Purification Enables Clean Beauty Actives

    The global cosmetics market is undergoing a major shift towards the use of natural bioactive ingredients as consumers grow more skeptical of traditional formulations and demand greater transparency and sustainability.

    July 8, 2026

    Advancements in RO for Dairy Processing

    Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are well established in dairy processing but continue to evolve to improve performance, reduce energy use, and increase operational longevity. 

    View All Submit An Event

    Products

    Probiotic Ice Cream: Science and Technology

    Probiotic Ice Cream: Science and Technology

    See More Products
    health and wellness


    plant of the year

    Related Articles

    • Organic Valley names first female CEO

      Organic Valley names its first female CEO

      See More
    • Ciranda CEO Jean-Philippe Tournoy

      Ciranda names new CEO to succeed founder

      See More
    • Icon Foods.jpeg

      Icon Foods names new CEO

      See More

    Related Products

    See More Products
    • two world.jpg

      The Potential Effect Of Two New Biotechnologies On The World Dairy Industry

    • download.jpg

      Probiotic Ice Cream: Science and Technology

    See More Products

    Related Directories

    • Organic Valley (Chaseburg, WI)

    • Organic Valley (La Farge, WI)

    • Beyond Organic

    ×

    Stay ahead of the curve. Unlock a dose of cutting-edge insights.

    Receive our premium content directly to your inbox.

    SIGN-UP TODAY
    • RESOURCES
      • Advertise
      • Contact Us
      • Directories
      • Store
      • Want More
    • SIGN UP TODAY
      • Create Account
      • eMagazine
      • Newsletter
      • Customer Service
      • Manage Preferences
    • SERVICES
      • Marketing Services
      • Reprints
      • Market Research
      • List Rental
      • Survey/Respondent Access
    • STAY CONNECTED
      • LinkedIn
      • Facebook
      • YouTube
      • X (Twitter)
    • PRIVACY
      • PRIVACY POLICY
      • TERMS & CONDITIONS
      • DO NOT SELL MY INFORMATION
      • PRIVACY REQUEST
      • ACCESSIBILITY

    Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing