Veteran Food and Beverage Industry Advocate Selected Following National Search

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) Board of Directors today announced it has selected Coca-Cola executive Jim McGreevy, a veteran food and beverage industry executive and government affairs leader, as the organization’s next President & CEO, succeeding Linda Doherty.

McGreevy was selected following a national search launched earlier this year after Doherty announced plans to retire in January 2027 following 33 years with the NJFC, including 23 years as President & CEO. NJFC retained an executive search firm, Stanton Chase, to guide the process for the organization that represents food retailers, wholesalers, distributors and supplier partners throughout New Jersey.

“Following an extensive national search, the Board is extremely pleased to welcome Jim McGreevy as the next President & CEO of the New Jersey Food Council,” said NJFC Chair Jason Read, Director of Store Operations at Wawa. “We were looking for a proven leader who understands our industry, knows how to build coalitions and has the advocacy experience to ensure the voice of New Jersey’s food industry remains strong and effective. Jim brings all of that, along with a deep connection to New Jersey and an impressive record of leadership at both the state and national levels.”

McGreevy will be stepping away from his position as Vice President of Government Affairs for The Coca-Cola Company, where he leads the company’s federal advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. He previously spent eight years as President & CEO of the Beer Institute, the national trade association representing brewers, beer importers and supply-chain partners. Earlier in his career, he held senior government affairs positions with the American Beverage Association and worked on state-level public policy issues across more than 35 states.

McGreevy’s experience includes leading trade associations, building industry coalitions, directing government affairs strategies and serving as an industry spokesperson before policymakers, regulators and the media. As President & CEO of the Beer Institute, McGreevy oversaw the association’s strategic direction, advocacy and industry representation and led efforts that secured a permanent federal excise tax reduction for brewers.

“This is an important moment for the New Jersey Food Council,” said  NJFC Search Committee Chair Jim McCaffrey of McCaffrey’s Food Markets.  “Linda Doherty has built an extraordinary legacy over more than three decades of service to this organization and our industry.

“Finding the right person to follow her required a thoughtful and comprehensive process,” he added. “Jim understands that he is inheriting an organization with a strong reputation, an engaged membership and an important mission. We are confident he will build upon that foundation while bringing his own ideas, energy and experience to NJFC.”

McGreevy, a Neptune resident and Seton Hall University graduate, said the opportunity brings together his experience in food and beverage policy, trade association leadership and advocacy. His professional background also includes a law degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law.

He has been recognized by Washingtonian magazine among its “500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy” from 2024 through 2026, was twice named Brewbound’s Person of the Year and was recognized by CEO Update as a Top Association Lobbyist.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the New Jersey Food Council and to follow Linda Doherty, whose leadership has made NJFC one of the most respected trade associations,” McGreevy said. “Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the importance of strong, credible advocacy and the power of bringing an industry together around common goals. I look forward to listening to our members, working with the talented NJFC staff and ensuring that New Jersey’s food industry continues to have a strong voice in Trenton and throughout the state.”

Doherty announced her retirement in February, saying the timing would allow NJFC to conduct a comprehensive search and provide for an orderly leadership transition. She has led the organization through major changes in the food retail industry as well as significant economic and public-policy challenges.

“Jim’s selection begins an exciting new chapter for the New Jersey Food Council,” Doherty said. “I look forward to working with him during the transition and helping ensure that NJFC continues to serve its members with the same energy, credibility and effectiveness that have defined this organization for more than half a century.”

NJFC represents nearly 400 companies, including approximately 1,200 retail food stores, as well as wholesalers, manufacturers and service companies. The organization advocates for the food retail and distribution industry before state government and works to promote sound public policy, industry best practices and collaboration among its members. Learn more here.