Longtime senior vice president Ryan Lepicier is named president after executive search; Parker recognized as food allergy champion.
After a nationwide executive search, the National Peanut Board recently announced Ryan Lepicier as the new president and CEO beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Lepicier most recently served as NPB’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
“Over the last 15 years of dedicated service to NPB, Ryan has exemplified great professional leadership and communication skills to both staff and industry partners alike,” says NPB Chairman and Virginia Board member, Paul Rogers. “Ryan was instrumental in helping the board with the current mission, which is to improve the economic condition of America’s peanut farmers and their families through compelling promotion and groundbreaking research. Ryan will keep this in the forefront as he leads NPB into its next chapter.”
NPB Vice Chairman and member of the executive search committee Greg Baltz says, “The committee performed an extensive search, and with the assistance of the firm Vetted Solutions, we were able to interview several highly qualified and talented individuals. Because we knew that Ryan was a candidate for the position, the bar was set high. As the interviews concluded, it became obvious that Ryan’s talent and preparation make him uniquely situated to become our next president and CEO.”
Lepicier has a journalism/media background and an MBA from Auburn University. In his more than 15 years leading marketing and communications at NPB, U.S. per capita consumption has reached all-time highs and the headwinds from peanut allergy are slowing as promising new solutions are on the horizon. Prior to NPB, Lepicier served as communications manager for the Office of the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, a multimedia producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting and worked as a television news reporter and anchor at several network affiliate TV stations.
Lepicier replaces retiring President & CEO Bob Parker. The National Peanut Board is grateful for Parker’s 11 years of dedicated service on behalf of America’s peanut farmers and expects a seamless transition.
NPB’s Parker Recognized As Food Allergy Champion
Once viewed with widespread skepticism, the NPB’s relationship with the food allergy community has evolved since its inception. Now, the NPB has invested more than $36 million into food allergy research, education and outreach in an effort to be “part of the solution” on food allergies.
Through this effort, America’s peanut farmers supported early research that opened doors and provided seed funding for life-altering studies and intervention, including supporting the research team that conducted the groundbreaking LEAP trial.
Because of his leadership in this area on behalf of NPB over the past decade, Bob Parker was recognized with the 2023 FARE Food Allergy Champion Award. FARE stands for Food Allergy Research & Education and is committed to enhancing the lives of individuals with food allergies, empowering them to lead safe, productive lives with the respect of others through education and advocacy initiatives and improved awareness around healthcare options and treatment – a mission NPB can certainly get behind too.
“Bob’s commitment on behalf of NPB has made a significant difference in the work that FARE does to advocate on behalf of Americans with food allergies,” says Sung Poblete, CEO FARE. “We are grateful for his leadership and support of the food allergy community and happy to recognize him with this award.”
NPB also has had a long-term partnership with food allergy advocacy organization Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team. FAACT’s mission is to educate, advocate, and raise awareness for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis.
NPB has been a sponsor since its beginning 10 years ago, including sponsoring the organization’s Food Industry and Research Summit. At this year’s event in September, Ryan Lepicier, NPB chief marketing officer, expressed his appreciation for the food allergy community while providing an update of the industry and America’s peanut farmers. Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD spoke about the many initiatives that NPB supports including helping to promote early introduction of peanut foods to help prevent peanut allergies and comprehensive approaches to food allergy management in K-12 schools, among others. PG
