Lamb Weston expands leadership role of Mike Smith

Lamb Weston announced last week that Mike Smith, Senior Vice President, Growth & Strategy, will assume leadership of its Foodservice and Retail Business Units.

Smith will lead the two business units, which sell fries and other potato products to foodservice distributors and restaurant operators and the company’s retail line of products including Alexia®, Grown in Idaho®, licensed brands, and private label items to grocers and other retailers.

Smith has been with Lamb Weston for more than 10 years. His current responsibilities as Senior Vice President of Growth and Strategy, as well as his previous role leading the Retail Business Unit as vice president and general manager, will enable a seamless transition of the Foodservice and Retail businesses.

In his new role, Smith succeeds Rod Hepponstall, who is leaving Lamb Weston to become CEO of the publicly-traded Canadian seafood company Highliner Foods (TSX:HLF).

Tom Werner, CEO of Lamb Weston:

“Mike is a terrific leader and I am confident he will continue to drive both the Retail and Foodservice growth going forward, maintaining the great momentum we have in both of those segments.”

“I would like to thank Rod for his contributions to Lamb Weston. He has been instrumental in driving step change business results and building out talented teams over his time at Lamb Weston.”

“We wish Rod all the best in his new opportunity.”

(Click picture to watch video)

Video of the presentation 'Frozen Potato Market Outlook' by Mike Smith, Lamb Weston during Potato Business Summit 2018