DES MOINES, IOWA – Neil Dierks, chief executive officer of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), recently announced his plans to retire from the organization by the end of the year.

Dierks will remain CEO until a replacement is found and will serve as a strategic counselor during the transition period.

“Over the last 40 years, Neil has made countless, lasting contributions to the US pork industry and established NPPC as a leading national advocacy organization and the global voice of the US pork industry,” said Jen Sorenson, president of the NPPC and communications director with Iowa Select Farms. “He announces his plan to retire from NPPC at a time when the organization is in a stronger position than ever before to fulfill its advocacy mission.”  

The NPPC Board of Directors gathered a search committee made up of producer leaders and retained Korn Ferry to lead the search for the top executive position.

“I have truly enjoyed my service as CEO of NPPC,” Dierks said. “The chance to interface with producers and others in the pork industry and beyond and to work with producer leaders and the talented NPPC staff has been the highlight of my career.”

Dierks began his career in the pork industry by managing the Iowa Pork Congress in 1981 for the Iowa Pork Producers Association. After working other various jobs in the industry, he moved over to the NPPC in 1990 to work on the World Pork Expo. Dierks also works as director of operations for NPPC’s CEO, vice president of research and education, and senior vice president of programs. 

He has worked as the CEO of NPPC since 2001. The association said Dierks led NPPC’s steady growth over the next 20 years, expanding sources of revenue and establishing it as a highly effective, influential national advocacy organization critical to the profitable growth of US pork producers.