New Jersey Food Council Named Jim McGreevy CEO

The trade association appointed the Coca-Cola executive to succeed longtime leader Linda Doherty.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People

New Jersey Food Council Named Jim McGreevy CEO

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The New Jersey Food Council has appointed Jim McGreevy as its next chief executive officer. He will take over leadership duties from current CEO Linda Doherty, who is set to retire in January 2027.

Why it matters

The transition marks a change in leadership for the organization, which represents hundreds of businesses that form the backbone of the states food distribution industry. The appointment follows a national search conducted to replace Doherty after her two-decade tenure.

The New Jersey food distribution industry currently accounts for more than $157 billion in value. Council members collectively employ over 200,000 workers across the state.

The players

Jim McGreevy

He is the incoming CEO of the New Jersey Food Council and a current vice president of government affairs at The Coca-Cola Co.

Linda Doherty

She is the outgoing leader of the New Jersey Food Council who has served in the position for more than two decades.

New Jersey Food Council

This Trenton-based trade association represents nearly 400 entities involved in the states food distribution sector.

Stanton Chase

This is an executive search firm that was retained by the council to manage the recruitment process for the new CEO.

Beer Institute

This national trade association for the American brewing industry previously employed McGreevy as president and CEO for eight years.

The details

The New Jersey Food Council retained the executive search firm Stanton Chase to identify a successor after Linda Doherty announced her retirement. McGreevy currently serves as vice president of government affairs for The Coca-Cola Co. and previously led the Beer Institute for eight years.

September 2026: Jim McGreevy was officially announced as the new CEO.
January 2027: Linda Doherty is scheduled to retire from her leadership position.

Market Landscape

The transition represents a major shift in trade association governance for the region, moving from a multi-decade tenure to a fresh executive perspective. This move positions the council to navigate ongoing economic pressures in the $157 billion state food industry.

Local shoppers and businesses may notice shifts in the association's policy priorities as McGreevy assumes control. The leadership change directly influences how the council advocates for food distribution workers and entities within the local economy.

The takeaway

The appointment of an experienced government affairs executive suggests a focus on regulatory engagement for the states food sector. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming policy agendas to see how this transition influences the local food industry landscape.