IDDBA CEO Michael Eardley to retire

Michael Eardley, president and CEO of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is retiring, the industry organization announced Monday.

Eardley has helmed the IDDBA since August 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he spent more than 13 years working in senior posts in deli and prepared foods for Texas-based grocer H-E-B.

“We are thankful for Mike’s guidance of the association throughout his tenure,” Dotty Vandermolen, immediate past chairwoman of the IDDBA board, said in a statement. “His knowledge and dedication to our industry enabled IDDBA to grow our annual trade show event and year-round educational resources.”

The IDDBA executive committee has started the search process for a new president and CEO for the organization and will be accepting resumes and letters of interest through Dec. 3. Finalists will be interviewed in January, the group said.

IDDBA was founded in 1964 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin. The group helps retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and brokers meet their business goals through education, networking and more.

IDDBA’s annual conference will take place June 4-6 in Anaheim, California.