Organic Valley named Abed Abdo as the farmer-owned cooperative's new chief financial officer. Abdo, a certified public accountant, holds a bachelor of science in Accounting & Business Administration from the University of Jordan and a track record of success at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Abbott. Abdo's appointment as the CFO began on May 22.
"I am honored and elated to be joining the cooperative and serve its mission to create a stable economic model for organic farmers" said Abdo. "Organic Valley's commitment to the health and welfare of people, animals, and the earth aligns with my values. I look forward to working collaboratively with CEO Jeff Frank, the board members, the farmer-members and the team across the cooperative to realize the immense potential for Organic Valley's continued growth and success, and I'm excited to be a part of that journey."
Abdo comes to Organic Valley from the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he served as the CFO since 2019. His leadership there played a critical role in the organization achieving recognition as the first charity in philanthropic history to raise $2 billion for a single cause. Before this, he led the finance function at ConvaTec Group (Americas) and several divisions of Abbott Laboratories, where he spent much of his career.
"We are thrilled to welcome Abed to our team," said Jeff Frank, CEO of Organic Valley. "His substantial experience in devising finance and business strategies and his demonstrated ability to lead top-tier finance functions with mission-driven organizations make him a powerful addition to the team. Abed has strong experience as a CFO, necessary technical skills, and clear philosophical compatibility with our cooperative culture, and I know he will make a difference working together with the farmers who own this cooperative."