Greg Ferrara, executive vice president of the National Grocers Association, will succeed Peter Larkin as president and CEO of the organization later this year.
Ferrara, who has been with NGA since 2005, has a long history in the grocery industry. He managed his family’s store – Ferrara Supermarket – for more than a decade, until it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He has also worked as a corporate project manager for Associated Grocers in Baton Rouge, La.
In his current role, Ferrara oversees NGA’s advocacy and lobbying efforts, public and industry relations, and retail and wholesale membership, according to a news release. He represents the organization before legislators, federal agencies and others on a variety of issues and leads the NGA’s political affairs, including the NGA Grocers PAC.
Cheryl Sommer, chair of the NGA board, and Mike Stigers, vice chair of the NGA board, led the search committee to find Larkin’s successor, and they jointly endorsed Ferrara as the best candidate.
“As a former independent grocer, Greg’s passion for our industry is second to none, and his leadership over the years as NGA’s chief lobbyist, among other roles, has prepared him well to lead this organization into the future,” Sommer and Stigers said in the release. “We look forward to working with Greg to support his efforts to build upon the strong foundation that Peter Larkin has laid for NGA.”
Ferrara will officially begin his new role Sept. 1, with Larkin staying on as an adviser through the end of the year.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead an organization and an industry that I care so passionately about,” Ferrara said in the release. “Independent grocers are the bedrock of thousands of communities across this country, and NGA has played an essential role in ensuring that those entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow and be successful. The future is very bright, and I look forward to working closely with our board of directors and members to grow NGA’s influence and resources in support of our membership.”