Janet Riley, the North American Meat Institute’s (NAMI) senior vice president for public affairs, is leaving the organization to become the vice president of communications for Maple Leaf Foods.
Riley will remain with NAMI through the end of 2018 and will begin in her new role with Maple Leaf Foods on January 3, 2019.
“I’m just thrilled to join Maple Leaf as I have so much respect for them,” Riley said in an email.
In a memo to members, NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts, praised Riley’s work for the organization and her wide knowledge of industry issues.
“Janet has had a stellar 27-year career at the Meat Institute. Among her many contributions to the meat and poultry industry, she has appeared on major national networks and TV shows and has been a rational and reliable voice, consistently making herself available to have conversations with meat industry critics. Janet has served as "Queen of Wien" of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, which she founded in 1994. In her council role, Riley has made more than a thousand media appearances to promote hot dogs and sausages. As a member of the NAMI Crisis Management Team, she provides strategic counsel to NAMI members when needed and is often called “the 911 of the meat industry,” Potts wrote.
Riley was honored with the institute’s Industry Advancement Award for her work in leading the Nitrite Issues Management Program in 2000. In addition, Riley’s work has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America and the American Society of Association Executives.
During her Meat Institute tenure, Riley has also managed the membership and education departments, the production center and the IT department.
Riley has also offered her expertise to people in the meat and poultry industries, having recently been a speaker at the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) and the 2018 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit.
Potts added that NAMI expects to continue to work closely with Riley as Maple Leaf Foods is a member.
Maple Leaf Foods, headquartered in Ontario, is involved in broiler, turkey and pork production. It has also recently become involved in the plant-based protein industry through the acquisition of Lightlife Foods and Field Roast Grain Meat Co.
