Washington, DC, August 28, 2025 — Today, the Council on Competitiveness (Council) will announce Mr. J. Erik Fyrwald, CEO, IFF, as its next Chair.
The announcement comes in advance of the Council’s September 17-18, 2025, Executive Committee and National Commissioners Meeting in Lafayette, IN, which is themed around the future of the bioeconomy, and will bring together national and global leaders from business, academia, labor, the national laboratories, and government.
Mr. Fyrwald will also lead the Council’s 2025 National Competitiveness Forum, December 15-16, in Washington, DC—providing vision and setting forth the organization’s agenda as it heads to its 40th anniversary in 2026 (register here).
“Erik is well positioned to be Chair of the Council given his deep business and scientific leadership,” notes Council Chair Emeritus Brian Moynihan, Chair and CEO, Bank of America. “Erik’s expertise is well aligned to the priorities of the Council as it explores the frontiers of future productivity and prosperity. The Bank of America team looks forward to working with him.”
The Hon. Deborah Wince-Smith, Council President and CEO, adds: “Erik shares with his fellow board members a distinctive vision for the Council, as our country continues to evolve in an era of disruption and discontinuity. Erik, in leveraging his research, scientific, and business expertise, has been a long-standing leader—like IFF—supporting a range of industries and sectors at the cutting-edge of innovation. Erik will help position the Council for a new phase of growth and engagement as we approach our 40th anniversary in 2026, shaping a powerful growth agenda for the United States based on a strong commitment to strategic investments in research and development, and America’s workforce.”
Fyrwald: Shaping Strategies for Innovation, Growth, and Competitiveness
Erik Fyrwald joined IFF as Chief Executive Officer in February 2024.
Erik brings to IFF more than four decades of executive and operational experience driving innovation and profitable, sustainable growth at leading corporations in the nutrition, agriculture, and high-performance materials industries. His strategic vision has been instrumental in positioning IFF as a leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health and biosciences.
Previously, he held the role of Chief Executive Officer of Syngenta, where he helped establish Syngenta Group as a leading player in agriculture for global food security, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture. During his tenure, he oversaw the company’s exponential growth.
Prior to Syngenta, Erik was the Chief Executive Officer of Univar Solutions, a leading global chemical and ingredient distributor and services provider; President of Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nalco, which was acquired by Ecolab in 2011.
Earlier in his career, he held positions of increasing responsibility at DuPont, where he focused on strategic planning and leadership of regional and global business units, including as President of the DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition Division.
Erik has served on the Board of Directors of Eli Lilly since 2005.
Erik holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
“I’m honored to serve as Chair of the Council on Competitiveness at such a pivotal time,” said Fyrwald. “The Council plays a vital role in uniting leaders across sectors to drive innovation, strengthen U.S. competitiveness, and shape the future of our economy. I’m especially excited about the Council’s growing emphasis on the bioeconomy—an area where science, sustainability, and economic opportunity intersect. By advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing, we can unlock transformative solutions for food, health, and climate resilience that will benefit people and planet.”
About IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products—advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About the Council on Competitiveness
For more than three decades, the Council on Competitiveness (Council) has championed a competitiveness agenda for the United States to attract investment and talent and spur the commercialization of new ideas. While the players may have changed since its founding in 1986, the mission remains as vital as ever—to enhance U.S. productivity and raise the standard of living for all Americans.
The members of the Council—CEOs, university presidents, labor leaders, and national lab directors—represent a powerful, nonpartisan voice that sets aside politics and seeks results. By providing real-world perspective to policymakers, the Council’s private sector network makes an impact on decision-making across a broad spectrum of issues—from the cutting-edge of science and technology, to the democratization of innovation, to the shift from energy weakness to strength that supports the growing renaissance in U.S. manufacturing. The Council firmly believes that with the right policies, the strengths and potential of the U.S. economy far outweigh the current challenges the nation faces on the path to higher growth and greater opportunity for all Americans.
