Corey Scott to lead Dairy Management Inc. as new CEO
Dairy Management Inc. has named Corey Scott, currently CEO of Midwest Dairy, as its next president and CEO, succeeding Barbara O'Brien who retires in October. Scott will oversee the national dairy checkoff and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. She previously held leadership roles at Land O'Lakes and Athian.
Scott brings a blend of cooperative and technology-sector experience to the role, having spent over 15 years at Land O’Lakes before moving to Athian, a livestock sustainability platform. Her academic background includes an agricultural business degree and an executive MBA from the University of Minnesota. At Midwest Dairy, she directed checkoff activities spanning ten states and roughly 3,600 farm families.
The leadership transition comes after O’Brien’s March retirement announcement, capping a 25-year DMI tenure with five years as CEO. DMI’s board conducted a months-long search before unanimously selecting Scott. She will oversee more than 150 employees and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, managing programs funded by over 23,000 dairy farmers and importers nationwide.
This leadership change could shape how the dairy industry navigates shifting consumer preferences, sustainability pressures, and market competition. Farmers and importers who fund the checkoff may see new priorities in demand-building and innovation efforts, while consumers could encounter evolving dairy marketing and trust-building campaigns. The transition may also influence how the industry coordinates with state and regional organizations, potentially affecting rural economies and agricultural policy discussions in the years ahead.