The New Jersey Food Council has selected Jim McGreevy, a Coca-Cola executive and veteran food and beverage industry advocate, as its next president and CEO, the organization’s board announced Wednesday.
McGreevy succeeds Linda Doherty, who announced in February that she plans to retire in January 2027 after 33 years with NJFC, including 23 as president and CEO.
“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,” NJFC Chair Jason Read, director of store operations at Wawa, said.
“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.”
McGreevy currently serves 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 and CEO of the Beer Institute, the national trade association representing brewers, beer importers and supply-chain partners, where he led efforts that secured a permanent federal excise tax reduction for brewers. Earlier in his career, he held senior government affairs roles with the American Beverage Association, working on public policy issues across more than 35 states.
NJFC Search Committee Chair Jim McCaffrey, of McCaffrey’s Food Markets, said finding Doherty’s successor required a thoughtful process given the legacy she’s built.
“Jim understands that he is inheriting an organization with a strong reputation, an engaged membership and an important mission,” McCaffrey said. “We are confident he will build upon that foundation while bringing his own ideas, energy and experience to NJFC.”
McGreevy, a Neptune resident, graduated from Seton Hall University and holds a law degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law. He’s been named to Washingtonian magazine’s “500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy” list from 2024-26, 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. “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, who has led NJFC through major shifts in the food retail industry and significant public-policy challenges, called the transition an exciting new chapter for the organization.
“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,” she said.
NJFC represents nearly 400 companies, including roughly 1,200 retail food stores, along with wholesalers, manufacturers and service companies across the state.
