The National Chicken Council has installed the four officers that will guide the organization through 2026. The installation took place at NCC’s 70th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. David Jackson, chief operating officer of Simmons Foods, will serve as 2025-2026 chairman.

Jackson is responsible for running operations across the Simmons brands, including Simmons Foods, Simmons Prepared Foods, Simmons Pet Food and Simmons Animal Nutrition. Jackson joined Simmons in 1991 and has over three decades of poultry and pet food leadership. He has held significant roles throughout the company, including president and chief operating officer for Simmons’ poultry operations and Simmons Pet Food, as well as president of Simmons Wet Pet Food division and Simmons Prepared Foods. David received a Bachelor of Science in administrative management from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Kevin McDaniel, president and chief executive officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, will serve as vice-chairman. McDaniel served as senior vice president and general manager of the Fresh Business Unit, and held the role of chief operating officer for Wayne Farms prior to the acquisition. With over 35 years of industry experience, he brings a wealth of leadership expertise, most recently as president of Aviagen North America, as well as previous senior roles with OK Foods and Pilgrim's. McDaniel earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently sits on the board at other associations, including the US Poultry & Egg Association, and previously held several key positions with The Poultry Federation including chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer, secretary and board member.

New to the officer corps, Kevin McAdams, chief executive officer and president of Perdue Farms, will serve as secretary-treasurer. McAdams joined Perdue Farms in July 2022 as president of Perdue Foods and chief operating officer of Perdue Farms, and was named CEO in July 2023, becoming only the fifth CEO in the company’s more than 100-year history. Before joining Perdue, he guided growth and transformation for large names in food and beverage — among them Jack Link’s Protein Snacks, Mizkan America, Schwan’s Consumer Brands and Pabst Brewing Co. — building on earlier career experience with Red Bull, The CocaCola Co. and Frito-Lay North America. A graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, McAdam was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2024 for his business leadership and community impact.

In addition to the three new officers, Harrison Kircher will serve his second term as NCC president.

“I want to commend and thank immediate past chairman Bill Griffith for his tremendous leadership and support over this past year,” Kircher said. “Bill’s expertise, guidance and dedication were critical to the success of the team and organization this year. I know NCC and the industry are in good hands with the extensive experience and vast knowledge of David, Kevin and Kevin who will guide our organization in the coming year as they assume their new officer roles.”

Source: National Chicken Council