The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) seeks a highly accomplished, enterprise-minded executive to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer (President). This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to shape the direction, reputation, and policy influence of a critical U.S. industry at the intersection of agriculture, food systems, trade, and public policy.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President will lead the overall strategy, positioning, and performance of the organization. In close partnership with the Board and member company CEOs, this leader will shape and execute a forward-looking strategic agenda, elevate the industry’s voice, and drive alignment across a complex stakeholder landscape in the U.S. and globally. The President will serve as the primary external face of the industry, bringing credibility, judgment, and executive presence to advance CRA’s policy priorities and strengthen its standing with policymakers, regulators, media, and key stakeholders. This leader will elevate the industry’s narrative and position it as an essential, responsible contributor to the U.S. economy and global food system.
This search follows the planned retirement of current President and CEO John Bode, who has led the organization since 2013 and will retire in January 2027. Under his leadership, CRA has strengthened its position as a best-in-class issues management organization with significant influence across food, agriculture, and sustainability policy. The next CEO will have the opportunity to shadow the outgoing President until his retirement, building upon this strong foundation and guiding the organization into its next phase of leadership and impact.
This position is based in Washington, DC.
About CRA
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is a national, nonprofit trade association based in Washington, DC whose mission is to advance corn products to benefit people, the environment, and the economy. Guided by a commitment to community, respect, and action, CRA strives to be a responsible partner within the broader agriculture community, supporting environmental stewardship and the people it serves. The association promotes integrity, honesty, and fairness in its work by listening to and learning from diverse perspectives, while fostering collaboration that strengthens inclusion and reduces environmental impact across the industry.
Through a series of operating committees comprised of executives from member companies, CRA conducts programs of technical service, public relations, issues management, public education, and government relations for its membership. By empowering informed, thoughtful, and collaborative decision-making, CRA drives meaningful outcomes that benefit its industry, communities, and the environment. CRA is also a leading supporter of the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC), a separate trade association that operates with substantial financial support from CRA and is staffed by CRA personnel through a shared services agreement between the two organizations.
Key Leadership Priorities
In partnership with the Board of Directors and member company leadership, the President & CEO will be expected to focus on several key priorities that will shape the organization’s near- and long-term impact.
Align and Lead a Highly Concentrated, CEO-Driven Industry
Build trusted relationships with member company CEOs and senior executives, reinforcing CRA as a critical forum for alignment among a small group of highly influential industry leaders.
Sustain and strengthen a cohesive, high-functioning Board culture, enabling alignment on complex and sometimes competing priorities.
Establish clear strategic direction and decision frameworks that drive focus, speed, and impact.
Defend and Reposition the Industry’s Core Business
Lead a coordinated, science-based strategy to address increasing scrutiny of processed foods, sweeteners, and seed oils across regulatory, political, and public domains.
Reframe the industry narrative to emphasize balance, evidence-based nutrition, and the role of corn-based products in the broader food system.
Ensure alignment across member companies on messaging and advocacy to mitigate reputational and policy risk.
Advance Biomanufacturing as a Strategic Growth Platform
Position the industry as a leader in biomanufacturing and plant-based innovation, including chemicals, materials, and advanced inputs.
Drive one to two meaningful policy or legislative wins that accelerate investment and growth in bio-based production.
Elevate the industry’s role in national priorities, including supply chain resilience, sustainability, and national security.
Expand Influence with Policymakers and Strategic Coalitions
Maintain and deepen senior-level relationships across Congress, the Administration, and key state leaders.
Operate effectively in a complex political environment, advancing industry priorities through both direct advocacy and coalition engagement.
Strengthen alignment with key partners across agriculture, food, and allied sectors to increase collective influence.
Deliver Organizational Excellence and Member Value
Align structure, talent, and resources to support strategic priorities and high-impact execution
Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, and performance.
Demonstrate clear and measurable return on investment to member companies, reinforcing the value of engagement and dues support.
The President Role
The President & CEO serves as the chief strategist, industry advocate, and organizational leader for CRA. This individual will drive enterprise-wide alignment, translate Board priorities into actionable strategy, and ensure the organization is positioned to lead on the most critical issues facing the industry.
The President & CEO serves as the unifying leader of the association, aligning strategy, resources, and execution to advance the industry’s priorities. This individual will ensure the organization operates with clarity of purpose, strong financial stewardship, and disciplined execution, while positioning CRA for sustained relevance, growth, and impact.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership/Governance
Shape and drive a clear, forward-looking strategic agenda that advances the industry’s priorities and enhances CRA’s value to member companies
Engage and align senior executives of member organizations around shared priorities, ensuring sustained, high-level participation and commitment
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Board and member CEOs, building alignment on complex, and at times competing, priorities to advance the collective interests of the industry.
Anticipate and position CRA to lead on emerging industry dynamics, including regulatory shifts, evolving consumer expectations, sustainability pressures, and technological change.
Facilitate timely and well-informed CRA and PBPC Board decision making regarding strategic plans, budgets, and policies of significance to the industry.
Advocacy & Communications
Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with key policymakers, regulators, and influencers across Congress, the Administration, and relevant state governments.
Take a hands-on role in advancing policy priorities, directly engaging in advocacy efforts, coalition building, and strategic outreach.
Anticipate political, economic, and societal developments and guide proactive, strategic responses on behalf of the industry.
Work with the members’ corporate executives to advance the organization’s goals and agenda.
Cultivate key relationships with other associations and industry organizations that share common advocacy goals and objectives.
Ensure that CRA retains and enhances its proactive and reactive role in dealing with traditional and social media platforms.
Ensure CRA and PBPC are associations respected among their peers and the policy community for expertise, strategic approach and effective advocacy.
Serve as the principal spokesperson for the industry, representing CRA with authority and credibility across government, media, and public forums
Management/Administration
Lead and scale a high-performing team, ensuring excellence across government affairs, communications, research, regulatory, and technical functions.
Attract, develop, and retain top talent, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and performance.
Ensure CRA and PBPC develop and effectively implement management plans.
Ensure CRA and PBPC are well managed and accountable.
Required Skills, Experience, and Desired Qualifications
Proven senior executive leadership experience, ideally serving as a CEO, President, COO, and/or equivalent role for 10+ years within a complex organization, trade association, or industry-facing enterprise.
Deep understanding of federal and state policy environments, with demonstrated success influencing legislative and regulatory outcomes.
Proven advocacy, communications, and relationship-building skills, and strong organizational management and teambuilding experience.
Proven success in bipartisan relationship building.
Experienced staff leader, with demonstrated track record for leading a dynamic organization; attracting, developing and motivating strong talent; and building and managing a high-performing team in a results-oriented, fast paced environment.
Track record for working with diverse stakeholders to forge an organization’s strategic plan and execute upon that plan with appropriate urgency, timeliness and responsiveness to outline goals, establish metrics and meet benchmarks, and deliver projects on budget.
Track record in actively engaging members of Congress and its staff.
Demonstrated ability to build and lead coalitions across industry, trade associations, and stakeholder groups to advance shared objectives.
Recognized credibility with senior policymakers and industry leaders, with a reputation for integrity, sound judgment, and effective advocacy across the political spectrum.
Personal Qualities and Competencies
Demonstrated superb analytical and strategic planning skills.
Innovative and strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both enterprise and execution levels.
Executive presence and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders, including policymakers, CEOs, media, and the public.
Outstanding interpersonal and persuasion skills, including the ability to relate well to a wide range of constituencies; strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust, navigate complexity, and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.
An ability and passion for quickly engaging in the legislative and regulatory issues facing the corn products industry to advance its agenda with credibility.
Compensation
A highly competitive executive compensation package will be offered, commensurate with the scope and impact of the role.
To Apply
To apply, please send a cover letter and current resume (Microsoft Word® format preferred) here. The cover letter should outline how your experience fits the requirements of the position as this will be an important factor in considering your candidacy.
Sterling Martin Associates is committed to providing equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, political affiliation, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
