A changing of the guard is underway in Central Iowa — and it’s happening at a record pace. 

Some in the business community may have detected the recent increase in retirements of long-time leaders and the variety of other departures, new hires and newly created roles across the region. A recent review of Business Record archives confirms that feeling. 

After a record number of executive leadership transitions (111) in 2024, a 54% increase from 2023, the community is on pace to set another record. One hundred leaders have transitioned already in 2025, with a third of the year remaining.

We reviewed the last five years of our coverage of leadership changes in local businesses, nonprofits, colleges and universities, and the public sector and found a total of 552 leadership changes since 2020, with more than one-third (211) happening between 2024 and August 2025.  

While the review does not reflect every leadership change in the area, we believe it points to how generational and other workforce shifts that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic are showing up in Central Iowa. 

Leadership transition is nothing new, but when many key organizations experience change, it spells a new environment for workers, leaders, companies and the community as a whole.

Retirement among the baby boomer generation accelerated after the pandemic and Generation Z surpassed baby boomers in their share of the workforce for the first time in 2023.

Many people also sought new paths, with more than 50 million Americans leaving their jobs between 2021 and 2022 after the height of pandemic lockdowns.

Below is a compilation of some of the top transitions from recent years. We hope it is useful as a resource and illustration of the level of change Central Iowa has experienced. Our archive of Key Leadership Changes dating back to 2021 is available at businessrecord.com. 

The Business Record will also expand our discussion of this topic at our final Power Breakfast of 2025, set for Oct. 30 at the Des Moines Heritage Center. We have opened registration and invite you to reserve your seat now for what we expect to be a highly anticipated conversation.

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Register now for our Oct. 30 Power Breakfast 

At our Power Breakfast on Oct. 30, the Business Record will dive deeper into what large-scale leadership transition means for Central Iowa leaders, businesses and the community. 

During the discussion, we will explore:

• The broader causes of this shift in leadership and what it means for the future of the local workforce.
• The effects on broader leadership dynamics, including community involvement, philanthropy and regional collaboration.
• What leadership style and priorities will define the next generation of leaders.
• How an executive leadership transition changes the operation of an individual organization.
• How organizations can prepare for the effects of leadership transitions in and outside of their companies.

Panelists to be announced. 

Register for event

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Businesses and business associations

Iowa Association of Business and Industry President

Mike Ralston, Retired December 2024

Nicole Crain, Started January 2025

Iowa Bankers Association President and CEO

John Sorensen, Retired December 2024

Adam Gregg, Started October 2024

Catch Des Moines President and CEO

Greg Edwards, Retired July 2025

Trina Flack, Started August 2025

Agribusiness Association of Iowa CEO

Bill Northey, Passed away February 2024

Julie Kenney, Started September 2024

Principal Financial Group President and CEO

Dan Houston, Stepped down January 2025
(Served as board chair through Sept. 2)

Deanna Strable, Started January 2025

NCMIC Insurance Co. CEO

Mike McCoy, Retiring December 2025 

David Siebert, Started June 2025

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co. President and CEO

Anant Bhalla, Stepped down May 2024

Jeff Lorenzen, Started May 2024

Sukup Manufacturing Co. President and CEO

Steve Sukup, Stepping down October 2025 
(Transition to chairman)

Tom Mangan, Starting October 2025

Aureon CEO

Scott Behn, Retired January 2025

George O’Neal, Started January 2025

Corteva Inc. Executive Vice President of Seed Business Unit

Tim Glenn, Retired spring 2025

Judd O’Connor , Started December 2024

Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa CEO

Art Wittmack, Retired July 2025

Marc Ward, Started July 2025

Bankers Trust Co. President
(Realigned role)

Samantha Mosser, Started August 2025

Bankers Trust Co. Chief Financial Officer

Kip Albertson, Retired March 2025

Brett Hartema, Started April 2025

Bankers Trust Co. Chief Risk Officer

Gary Buelt, Retired June 2025

Emily Stork, Started June 2025

Liberty National Bank Des Moines Market President

Brandon Bennett, Started January 2025

Hubbell Realty Co. CEO

Rick Tollakson, Retiring March 2026 

Kyle Gamble, Starts March 2026
(Currently president and COO)

Pella Corp. President and COO
(Realigned role)

Emily Videtto, Started December 2024

Hy-Vee Inc. Chairman of the Board

Randy Edeker, Retired July 2024

Jeremy Gosch, Started August 2024

CBRE Managing Director and Iowa Market Leader

Bill Wright, Stepped down November 2023 
(Transition to brokerage role)

Ajay Kalra, Started April 2024

Interstate Power and Light Co. (Alliant Energy) President

Terry Kouba, Retired May 2024

Mayuri Farlinger, Started May 2024

Kent Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer

John Thorpe, Retired January 2025

Kevin Fields, Started June 2024

LCS CEO

Joel Nelson, Stepped down December 2024

Chris Bird, Started January 2025

Nonprofits

Oakridge Neighborhood President and CEO

Teree Caldwell-Johnson, Passed away March 2024

Deidre DeJear, Started October 2024

Food Bank of Iowa CEO

Michelle Book, Retired December 2024

Tami Nielsen, Started June 2025

Des Moines Area Religious Council CEO

Matt Unger, Stepped down June 2025

Kathy Underhill, Started July 2025

Lutheran Services in Iowa CEO

Dan Dean (Interim), Served March 2023-January 2024

Renee Hardman, Started January 2024

World Food Prize Foundation President

Terry Branstad, Retired January 2025

Mashal Husain, Started February 2025

World Food Prize CEO (new position)

Tom Vilsack, Started March 2025 

Ellipsis CEO

Chris Koepplin, Stepped down April 2025

Kelly Hannan, Started April 2025

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement Executive Director

Matthew Reed, Resigned January 2025

Craig Owens, Appointed August 2025

Invest DSM Executive Director

Amber Lynch, Stepped down May 2025

Theresa Greenfield, Started September 2025

The Beacon Executive Director

Melissa Vine, Stepped down December 2024

Amy Landrigan, Started December 2024

Anawim Housing President

Cynthia Latcham, Steps down September 2025

Megan Milligan, Starts September 2025

Education

Des Moines Area Community College President

Rob Denson, Retiring December 2025

Replacement not yet announced

Iowa State University President

Wendy Wintersteen, Retiring December 2025

Replacement not yet announced, To start January 2026

Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Dean

David Spalding, Retired June 2025

Raj Agnihotri, Started July 2025

Drake University Zimpleman College of Business Dean

Alejandro Hernandez, Stepped down June 2025

Alanah Mitchell, Started July 2025

Simpson College President

Jay Byers, Passed away April 2025

Susan D. Stuebner (Interim), Started July 2025

Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families Manager

Ahmed Agyeman, Stepped down August 2023

Eric Idehen, Started October 2024

Local government and public entities

BioConnect Iowa President and CEO

Steve Brody, Retirement announced August 2025

Replacement not yet announced

Des Moines International Airport Executive Director

Kevin Foley, Retired April 2025

Brian Mulcahy, Started April 2025

Des Moines Water Works CEO and General Manager

Ted Corrigan, Retired July 2025

Amy Kahler, Started July 2025

Central Iowa Water Works Executive Director

Tami Madsen, Started November 2024

Prairie Meadows President and CEO

Gary Palmer, Retires December 2025

Brian Ohorilko, Starts January 2026

Broadlawns Medical Center President and CEO

Anthony Coleman, Resigned November 2023

Proctor Lureman, Started July 2024

City of Urbandale City Manager

A.J. Johnson, Retired December 2024

David Jones, Started January 2025

City of Grimes Economic Development Director (new position)

Katie Lord, Started May 2024

Iowa Workforce Development Deputy Director

Ryan West, Stepped down September 2024

Georgia Van Gundy, Started November 2024

Iowa Economic Development Authority Chief Operating Officer

Molly Lopez, Started March 2024