IDFA appoints Andrew Jerome as Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications

USA – The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has announced the appointment of Andrew Jerome as senior vice president of strategic communications.

Jerome will report to Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA, and serve on the association’s executive leadership team.

In his new role, Jerome will oversee the development and execution of IDFA’s comprehensive communications strategy to promote, enhance, and protect the image of dairy and the association.

He will continue positioning IDFA and its leadership as trusted advisors and thought leaders across agriculture, food and beverage, and public policy communities, while deepening relationships with media, policymakers, and key stakeholders in Washington and beyond.

As executive director of the IDFA Foundation, he will guide its strategic direction and philanthropic initiatives to advance community impact, workforce development and public trust in dairy.

“We are excited to welcome Andrew to the IDFA Executive Team as senior vice president of strategic communications. He has been instrumental in positioning IDFA as the authoritative voice of the dairy industry,” said Dykes.

Before joining IDFA in 2020, Jerome served as director at Michael Torrey Associates, where he provided policy and communications counsel to food companies, trade associations, farm groups, and universities, while helping grow the firm’s strategic communications and business development efforts.

He previously was communications director for the National Farmers Union, overseeing media relations, digital strategy, coalition communications, events, and member outreach.

A native of Southern Maryland, Jerome holds a degree in public relations with an emphasis on American politics and policy from West Virginia University.

IDFA senior vice president set to retire by end of 2025

Recently, J. David Carlin, senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), announced his retirement at the end of 2025 after nearly four decades in food and agriculture, including 11 years at IDFA.

Dave joined IDFA in 2014 to lead legislative and political affairs as well as the association’s economic policy work.

Before joining IDFA, Carlin was a partner with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP where he represented numerous food and agricultural companies, cooperatives and trade associations before the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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