The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announced that AHPA President Michael McGuffin will be stepping away from his current role and transitioning to a Senior Advisor position. McGuffin began his tenure as president in 1999 and has been at the helm during many of the organization's significant legislative victories. This includes the enactment of the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, which led to the production of invaluable industry resources such as the Botanical Safety Handbook (2nd edition), Herbs of Commerce (2nd and 3rd editions), and numerous guidance policies and documents.
AHPA President Michael McGuffin
“It has been an honor to lead both this incredible organization and the fight to ensure our families, friends, and neighbors have access to safe, high-quality herbal products and dietary supplements and that our members have a collective voice and the resources they need to succeed despite an ever-evolving regulatory landscape and marketplace,” said McGuffin. “After a long and fulfilling career at the helm of AHPA, this moment feels like the right time for both the organization and for me personally to embrace a change in leadership. I am committed to supporting the association during this period of transition and look forward to working closely with the next AHPA President, whom I will mentor and with whom I will share my herbal expertise and institutional knowledge as I continue to serve AHPA members in my new advisory role."
Words of Wisdom from Michael McGuffin
In the soon-to-be-published January/February issue of WholeFoods Magazine, McGuffin reflects on the state of the industry and shares a unifying call to action: "The industry has a history of resilience and innovation. By uniting around common goals, we can turn the challenges of 2024 into opportunities for growth and improvement in 2025 and beyond. Together, we can shape a future where natural products remain accessible, trusted, and beneficial for all." (Stay tuned for more of his insights.)
AHPA searches for a successor
Kristina Tucker, Chair of the AHPA Board of Trustees, reflected on McGuffin's time as President: “Michael has been an extraordinary leader and a tireless advocate for our industry. His contributions have positioned us for continued, unprecedented success, and we are deeply grateful for his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. We are confident that, through our internal search efforts and engagement with recruiting firms, we will identify a successor who will advance AHPA’s mission and build upon Michael’s tremendous legacy.”
Following the news of his role transition, select AHPA board members and staff formed an internal executive committee to begin looking within the organization for a possible successor. An open invitation has been extended to outside members of the dietary supplement community, as well as to recruiting firms, for possible candidates possessing the appropriate experience and embodying the association's core values. Interested participants should reach out directly to the committee and share their interest in the position at SearchCommittee@ahpa.org.
