Longtime employee of packaging industry association to succeed retiring CEO Charles Yuska

Pittas (left) and Yuska
PMMI—The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies recently announced that Senior Vice President Jim Pittas will lead the $52 million-revenue organization following the retirement of current CEO Charles Yuska in May 2018.

Pittas has been a PMMI employee since 2000. He previously was vice president of trade shows, a position from which he managed the association's PACK EXPO conferences.

As part of the upcoming change in leadership, Pittas was promoted from senior vice president to COO. The transition has been roughly a year in the making, according to PMMI.

"After much deliberation and careful thought, the executive committee unanimously concluded that the ideal candidate for the lofty position is already working at PMMI," Paul Irvine, chairman of PMMI's board of directors, said in a statement. "We interviewed Jim extensively and he was exceptional, making the choice clear."

PMMI is headquartered in Reston, Va., but also has an office in Mexico. The group's PACK EXPO International Show is one of the largest trade shows held in the U.S. PMMI will hold four U.S. events this year as well as a show in Guadalajara, Mexico.

In succeeding Yuska, Pittas replaces a CEO who has led PMMI for nearly three decades. Yuska joined the association in 1990, having previously been senior vice president and chief administrative officer at the American Meat Institute.

Yuska began working with PMMI's executive committee during the past year on a succession plan for the group.
The committee recommended Pittas for the job, and he was approved by the full board of directors.

"Jim has been involved as a member of my leadership team for years," Yuska said in the news statement. "He has grown the PACK EXPO brand from a single annual event to a portfolio of shows occurring throughout the year and across North America. I feel very strongly that Jim is well fit to build on our past success and lead PMMI to a bright and prosperous future."