After 12 years of successfully leading the world’s largest foodservice manufacturers association, the Chicago, Illinois, USA-headquartered International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and the IFMA Education Foundation, President & CEO Larry Oberkfell will be stepping down when his contract ends at the close of this year. Until then, he will continue to lead the association and foundation, and assist the board leadership as it searches for his successor.
“I have made the decision to return to the industry that I love and to begin my path on a new journey,” said Oberkfell on May 17. “Serving the foodservice manufacturer community for the last twelve years has been an extremely rewarding experience for me personally and professionally.”
Oberkfell joined IFMA as president and chief executive officer in 2008 after successful roles leading several food industry firms including frozen products specialist Schwan Food Company, Anchor Food Products, and GESD Capital as managing director. Through his leadership and vision, he steered IFMA through unprecedented growth and navigated the association to success in service of the industry.
“I have had the great benefit of an extraordinarily active and committed board of directors that has made my journey both fun and rewarding,” stated Oberkfell. “Together since 2008, we have grown IFMA member value to a level that we could not have imagined. The IFMA team has successfully grown member value and overall membership even during 2020, when the pandemic was especially brutal to our industry. Rest assured, I will not leave until the transition occurs smoothly with the board having selected a new chief executive officer. I am confident that we will identify a new leader who will take IFMA to a new tomorrow.”
IFMA Board leadership has selected Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), a leader in executive search and assessment, to partner with the search committee in conducting a nationwide search for Oberkfell’s successor.
The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) is an established trade association serving foodservice manufacturers for over 65 years to improve industry practices and relationships. By providing insights, developing best practices and fostering connectivity through events, it strives to enlighten members and motivate change that leads to betterment for the individual member organization and the industry at large.
