After a dozen years at the helm of Tillamook County Creamery Association, CEO Patrick Criteser is set to hang up his hat and move on. The man who guided Tillamook into new markets while expanding its presence beyond its Pacific Northwest roots will be stepping down later this year. In his place, the co-op's board has tapped David Booth, a company insider, as its next chief, Tillamook announced Tuesday.
Criteser, who has been leading the dairy cooperative since 2012, said in a statement Tuesday that he'd completed his mission. "I’d achieved what I’d set out to do in its top job by raising Tillamook’s profile, and dramatically expanding its distribution beyond the West Coast," as told to OregonLive. This transition is not immediate, however, as Criteser will retain his title until his official departure later in the year – a bid to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.
Booth, already serving as executive VP of brand growth and commercialization, is no stranger to the food industry. With an 18-year tenure at ConAgra Brands, one of America's food giants, under his belt before joining Tillamook in 2015, his experience is expected to serve the cooperative well. "An insider is set to succeed," reported KGW, framing the succession as a move signifying continuity and trust in in-house leadership.
As for Criteser's endorsement of his successor, it could not be clearer. "David Booth, currently the executive vice president of brand growth and commercialization, at Tillamook," was chosen as the next CEO and president, as per details shared by Supermarket Perimeter. Tillamook expressed that the choice aligns with its long-term succession plan while Criteser recognized Booth as the logical next leader. Booth immediately stepped into the role of president, while he and Criteser worked closely on the transition. A strategic move, perhaps, to maintain the cooperative's creamy status quo.
The dairy firm, headquartered in Oregon, is famed for its cheeses, ice creams, and other dairy delights. This leadership change is one of those key churns in the company's history that might just prove that it's not only their dairy products that can be smooth but also their executive transitions. As Tillamook turns the page on Criteser's chapter, customers and stakeholders alike will watch to see if Booth can keep the cooperative's trajectory just as sweet.
