After nearly serving nearly seven years as president and ceo of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), Kraig Naasz will step down at the end of this year to assume the helm of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). AFFI’s board of directors was informed of his decision at the trade association’s October 1 autumn meeting in Washington, DC.
Kraig Naasz will stay on as AFFI’s president and ceo through the end of 2015.“It’s been an honor and privilege to work with such an engaged membership and skilled staff to advance the interests of the frozen food and beverage community,” said Naasz. “I’m especially pleased to have led AFFI’s efforts to invite consumers, key opinion leaders and policy makers to take a fresh look at frozen through the Frozen, How Fresh Stays Fresh campaign.”
“We have greatly appreciated and valued Kraig’s leadership,” said AFFI Chairman Paul Bakus, who is also Nestle’s president of corporate affairs. “AFFI has added 170 new members over the past three years, grown its annual budget from $3.5 million to $25 million, and significantly enhanced the value derived by its nearly 500 members during his tenure.”
In keeping with the McLean, Virginia-headquartered Institute’s executive succession plan, Joseph Clayton, AFFI’s executive vice president of public affairs, will serve as interim president during the national search and selection of a successor to Naasz.
“We’re very pleased that Kraig has agreed to remain at AFFI through the end of the year to aid the search process and an orderly transition,” said Bakus. “AFFI has named a search committee and will select an executive search firm in the very near future to assist with its national search.”
