Organic Trade Association expands leadership team with co-CEOs

The Organic Trade Association has made a change to its leadership by naming Tom Chapman and Matthew Dillon as co-CEOs.

The leadership structure reflects the expanding vision of the trade association and the increasing opportunities and potential in the organic sector, according to a news release. Chapman and Dillon will combine their deep sets of expertise and seasoned perspectives to continue to push organic forward, the association said.

Chapman has served as CEO and executive director since March 2022. At the time, he replaced longtime CEO Laura Batcha, who joined OTA in 2008 and left in 2022.

“Tom and Matthew are truly a dynamic duo with a history of success as well as partnership, and they are poised and eager to accelerate the work of the trade association and to help us reach our strategic objectives,” Tracy Favre, president of OTA’s board of directors, said in the release.  “Moving to co-CEOs broadens OTA's ability to effectively represent our members in the growing and evolving organic sector.  The timing is right for this change, and the entire Board of Directors is supportive of this evolution in our leadership."  

OTA said Chapman and Dillon bring an impressive depth and breadth of leadership. Collectively, they have more than four decades of experience in organic across the industry, including farming, seed sector, supply chain, consumer packaged goods, certification and regulation and government affairs.

With the upcoming announcements of the first USDA Organic Marketing Development grant recipients, the trade association’s continued work as a lead cooperator for USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program and a farm bill, OTA said Chapman and Dillon’s leadership will ensure it's well positioned to support the continued growth and improvement of the organic sector.

When joining the trade association as CEO in 2022, Chapman brought 20 years of industry experience with expertise in policy, organic certification and organic supply chains, the release said. Starting his career at Quality Assurance International, he went on to lead the management of supply chains at Kinder’s Premium Sauces and Seasonings, Clif Bar & Co. and Numi Organic Tea.

As OTA’s co-CEO, Chapman will lead the association’s regulatory and technical affairs work, oversee the development of association programs and products and will be responsible for operations and financial management, the release said.

Dillon was raised in an agricultural family and community in Nebraska and has held diverse roles in organic food and farming, working from seed to shelf, OTA said. He headed Abundant Life Seed, one of the first certified seed companies in the U.S. and founded Organic Seed Alliance, according to the release. He worked for over 10 years at Clif Bar & Co. in several roles including vice president of impact and government affairs, and he most recently served as chief sustainability officer for organic poultry producer Farmer Focus.

As co-CEO for OTA, Dillon will oversee the organization’s public relations, policy agenda, member engagement and fundraising, according to the release.   

Dillon will speak at The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo in Hollywood, Fla. on Jan. 23, serving as moderator of a session called “Communicating the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to Consumers.”

“It's a privilege to co-lead OTA with Matt Dillion, particularly at this pivotal moment for the organic,” Chapman said in the release. “Our collective dedication to advancing the organic marketplace and our deep-rooted trade experience position us well to drive the organic sector forward. I look forward to leveraging our expertise to elevate OTA's initiatives, foster growth in the marketplace and champion the benefits of organic for a healthier, more sustainable future.”

“There’s an incredible opportunity to improve the integrity, relevance, and value of organic for our farmers, brands, consumers, and planet,” Dillon said in the release. “OTA can continue to lead and convene its diverse members to expand that potential. I look forward to working with Tom, the rest of the staff, our members, and the broader community of organizations working to improve the future of food and farming.”

Organic sales in the U.S. in 2022 totaled a record $67.6 billion, the release said. Organic food sales, at almost $62 billion, surpassed $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark, the release said.

The association represents more than 10,000 organic businesses across 50 states, according to the release, with its members representing the entire organic supply chain, including growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. 

The association said its expanding activities reflect the forward momentum and growth of the organic sector: Its iadvocacy for organic on Capitol Hill and in government agencies, the building out of business services offered to members, the creation of new member councils and task forces to better represent emerging organic categories, the inclusion of organic in climate-smart discussions and solutions, and the trade association’s growing diversity and entrepreneurship program.   

“We all know the benefits of organic, but it’s time to reinvigorate that conversation with consumers, farmers, business leaders, policymakers and advocates working to improve the food system for people and the planet,” Favre said in the release. “I am confident that Tom and Matthew working together at the trade association’s helm will enable OTA to best support its members and ensure the continued growth of organic.”