The Mushroom Council has named produce marketing strategist Amy Wood its new president and CEO.
Wood assumed the role this month after the Mushroom Council conducted an exhaustive national search following the planned transition of its prior president, Bart Minor, who had led the council for 26 years, according to a news release.
Wood is responsible for developing and overseeing strategic marketing, communication, research and promotion programs designed to bring profitable returns to U.S. mushroom farms and importers by increasing awareness and consumption of fresh mushrooms, the release said. She has more than two decades of food marketing and communications expertise, with a heavy emphasis on produce marketing.
Wood most recently was senior vice president for food strategy at integrated food and agriculture marketing communications agency Curious Plot, which has represented the Mushroom Council for the past nine years. While at the agency, she led planning and strategy for Mushroom Council initiatives such as the Blended Burger Project, Feed Your Immune System, Mushroom Monday, and more, the release said.
Wood represented additional clients including the California Avocado Commission, the National Watermelon Promotion Board and Sun World International.
“Amy is a true food marketing strategist and leader who not only is ready to go on day one because of her near decade of immersion in the mushroom industry, but also because of her vast background leading and counseling marketing teams for dozens of commodity boards and organizations,” Michael Stephan, chairman of the Mushroom Council, said in the release.
“Like so many other commodity boards and associations, the mushroom industry finds itself at the critical intersection of maintaining its loyal customer base while expanding and attracting new shoppers,” Wood said. “I look forward to the challenge ahead.”
