Michiel Bakker was installed as the Culinary Institute of America's (CIA) sixth president. He succeeds Dr. Tim Ryan, who held the position for 23 years.

Bakker brings nearly three decades of food and hospitality experience, notably holding leadership roles at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and Google. He is also a member of the James Beard Foundation's Board of Trustees and serves on advisory councils for the EAT Forum and World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator.