President, Dairy Systems and Flavors
Kerry Ingredients and Flavors


Derek Klaehn is President of Dairy Systems and Flavors for the Kerry Ingredients and Flavors North America region. He is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for two business units with combined revenues of $200-million.

With North American operations based in Beloit, Wisconsin, Kerry Worldwide supplies over 15,000 food, food ingredients and flavor products to customers in more than 140 countries. They have established manufacturing facilities in 23 countries, with international sales offices in 20 additional countries.

Derek joined Kerry as a corporate buyer in 2003 upon receiving an MBA in agribusiness from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He then moved to Mexico and spent three years as purchasing manager for Kerry Mexico. He returned to the U.S. into a general management position and assumed his current role in 2007.

Prior to receiving his MBA, Derek, worked with the World Bank Group in Washington, DC and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Guatemala. He holds a BS in Food Science from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.