Board of directors selects co-op employee
NEW ULM, Minn. (Sept. 15, 2008)—The Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) Board of Directors has named Ed Welch the cooperative’s president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective Oct. 1. He succeeds Mark Furth who is retiring after 38 years with AMPI, the last 19 as president and CEO.
Welch, the current AMPI chief operating officer (COO), has held various leadership positions during his 25 years with the Midwest milk marketing cooperative. He managed AMPI cheese manufacturing plants and member services in western Wisconsin before being named the cooperative’s COO. In that role he has led AMPI dairy manufacturing and marketing efforts.
“The AMPI Board of Directors searched for an effective leader to take the helm of AMPI. We found that leader in longtime AMPI employee Ed Welch,” said AMPI Chairman of the Board Paul Toft, a dairy producer from Rice Lake, Wis. “AMPI’s dedication to dairy farmers and our reputation in the dairy industry will continue to grow under Ed’s leadership. He understands the AMPI vision and the cooperative foundation on which we are built.”
“I would like to thank the board for its confidence and the opportunity to lead this cooperative,” Welch said. “I look forward to working with the board, members, our management team and employees as we guide AMPI into the future.”
Welch has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He is currently a member of the American Dairy Products Institute Board of Directors and a past president of the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association. He and his wife Linda have two adult sons, Tom and Dave. |
