DES MOINES – The National Pork Board will start the New Year searching for a new chief executive. The board recently announced that Chris Hodges will leave his position as CEO of the NPB effective Dec. 31. 

Chris Hodges, CEO, National Pork Board

The NPB plans to discuss the search process during a meeting in January. The board will finalize and share details about the search process following the meeting. In the meantime, John Johnson, COO, and the senior management team will oversee initiatives that are in progress and activities planned for 2016.

“The National Pork Board will share information on the search process as details are known in the weeks ahead,” NPB said in a news release. “The goal is to have a new CEO in place as soon as possible to continue the Pork Checkoff’s important work and 2016 plans.”

Hodges assumed the leadership position with the NPB this past February, after working with Smithfield Foods’ Farmland unit, where he served as senior vice president of business development. Hodges also was a board member of the National Pork Producers Council, where he served as chairman of its Packer Processor Industry Council.