The Food Industry Association (FMI) announced its 2023 board of directors at its annual Midwinter Executive Conference, held Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, Florida, according to a Monday press release. 

FMI’s former chairman, Randy Edeker, will be replaced by Brian George, who also serves as president, chairman and CEO for wholesaler and distributor Alex Lee, the parent company of Lowes Foods. Edeker recently stepped down as Hy-Vee’s CEO and is now the Midwestern grocer’s executive chairman of the board and executive director. 

George most recently served as vice chairman of finance for FMI’s board.

The new slate of board members is responsible for overseeing the execution of FMI's 2023-approved strategic plan. 

Along with George as chairman, Leslie G. Sarasin as president and CEO and Edeker as immediate past chairman, FMI’s 2023 board consists of nine vice chairmen and nine chairman’s appointees — all serving two-year terms — and 43 directors, who have three-year terms, per the announcement. 

FMI’s 2023 board of directors includes familiar faces including Susan Morris, who switched to a new vice chairman role; and Twyla Bailey of Mondelez International and Reynolds Cramer of Fareway Stores, who both are now vice chairmen after previously serving as directors on the board. 

“Coming off the disruption of the last three years, the food industry is at a pivotal point where both challenge and opportunity meet,” George said in a statement. “We strive to deepen our industry knowledge through education, strengthen our industry partnerships through collaboration and encourage policies that cultivate a flourishing business environment through advocacy efforts in Washington.” 

Last spring, FMI extended for an additional year the appointments of Edeker, the then-immediate past chairman, and nine vice chairmen who were first elected in 2020.