WASHINGTON — The National Chicken Council (NCC) announced on June 17 that Mike Brown would retire as president after 13 years in the position.

Randy Day, chairman of the NCC and retired former chief executive officer of Perdue Farms and the NCC Executive Committee announced that Gary Jay Kushner would serve as interim president of the trade association.

“We thank Mike for his work in building a strong foundation at NCC and for his years of work to promote the chicken industry in Washington, DC,” Day said. “We are now turning our attention to conducting a nationwide search to choose the right person to lead this organization and this great industry into the next decade and beyond.”

Kushner, who recently retired from the partnership of the law firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, served as NCC’s outside general counsel for more than 40 years.

“NCC has a fantastic team that is laser-focused on our mission of advocating on behalf of America’s chicken producers,” Kushner said. “I look forward to getting to work together once more while the organization puts in place its leadership for the future.”

Before taking that role, Kushner served as in-house legal counsel to several food industry trade associations, including general counsel to the previously named American Meat Institute.

“Gary knows inside and out the chicken industry and the issues that will shape our future,” Day said. “He is a proven leader with a steady hand and the right person to guide NCC as we select our next president.”