After more than 25 years of leadership, Michael McGuffin will transition from his role as President of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) to become a Senior Advisor following the appointment of his successor. To facilitate this transition, AHPA has formed an internal executive search committee, comprised of select board members and staff, to lead the search for the association’s next president.

Since taking the helm in 1999, McGuffin has played a pivotal role in AHPA’s growth, spearheading advocacy efforts and strengthening the association’s impact on the herbal product and dietary supplement industries. His leadership has resulted in significant legislative achievements, including the passage of the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, which established serious adverse event reporting for dietary supplements. Under his guidance, AHPA has also developed essential industry resources, such as the Botanical Safety Handbook (2nd edition), Herbs of Commerce (2nd and 3rd editions), and numerous guidance policies.

“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.”

Kristina Tucker, chair of the AHPA Board of Trustees said McGuffin 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,” she added. “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.” 

AHPA is now accepting expressions of interest from the dietary supplement community. Those interested in learning more about the position, including the job description, are encouraged to contact the executive search committee at SearchCommittee@ahpa.org. Alongside internal outreach, AHPA is working with recruiting firms to identify candidates who align with the association’s values and have the expertise to navigate the evolving regulatory and market landscape.