(NAFB) – After 31 years of service with the National Pork Producers Council, including the last 20 as CEO, Neil Dierks has announced his plan to retire by the end of the year.

However, Dierks will remain in his role as CEO until the search process for a new CEO is completed and will serve as a strategic counselor during a transition period. NPPC president Jen Sorenson says, “Over the last 40 years, Neil has made countless, lasting contributions to the U.S. pork industry and established NPPC as a leading national advocacy organization.”

Dierks started his career in the pork industry when he joined the Iowa Pork Producers Association in 1981 to manage the Iowa Pork Congress. The NPPC Board of Directors has assembled a search committee made up of producer leaders and retained Korn Ferry to lead the search for a new CEO.

The NPPC board expects to complete the search by the end of the year.