Leader Staff
KEITH HEIKES
Cooperative Resources International has named a new CEO to oversee the agricultural holding cooperative.
Keith Heikes, currently chief operating officer of the cooperative’s GENEX subsidiary, will succeed Doug Wilson, who will retire in August after 39 years with CRI.
The CRI board of directors announced the appointment Wednesday.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Heikes said. “I look forward to moving into this new role.”
Heikes will not have too steep a learning curve, having already been part of CRI management and involved in developing goals and strategies for the company.
His goal will be the same in his new role, working to grow the business, he said.
Heikes will lead an organization with more than $189 million in annual revenue and 1,350 employees across the globe.
Prior to this new appointment, Heikes spent 36 years in the cattle genetics and artificial insemination industry. He served as the chief operating officer for GENEX predecessor NOBA Inc. and then led the development of CRI’s global marketing program. In 2014, he was named GENEX chief operating officer and led the cooperative through exceptional market share growth, the company said in a news release.
During his career, Heikes has served on numerous industry councils and boards including serving as chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders. As a Kansas native and Kansas State University graduate, he was recognized with the 2017 Kansas Dairy Leader Award.
“We are excited to have Keith step into this important leadership role,” said John Ruedinger, CRI chairman and dairy producer from Van Dyne. “He is a strong leader with an extensive background in cooperative leadership and experience in both domestic and global marketing. We know Keith will uphold the CRI mission of being the global leader delivering excellence, innovation and value to our members and customers.”
Heikes’ career path at CRI is similar to his predecessor Wilson, who was also chief operating officer at GENEX before being named CEO of CRI in 2002.
“Throughout my career, the changes at CRI and within the agricultural industry have been many and exciting,” Wilson stated in a news release announcing his retirement in May. “One of the greatest rewards has been to navigate those changes with an outstanding group of people – members, delegates, directors and employees included. Because of this dedicated team, I’m certain the best decade for this cooperative and its member owners is yet to come.”
Headquartered in Shawano, CRI consists of brands that strive to meet the needs of individuals linked to the land through plant and animal production. Brands that are part of CRI include GENEX, AgSource, MOFA Global, Central Livestock and Farm Systems.