The NFL’s Washington Commanders on Tuesday announced the team will have a new president beginning in January. Mark Clouse, CEO of the Campbell’s Company, will enter into the role vacated by Jason Wright, who stepped down this past summer after serving as team president since 2020.
Clouse has served as president and chief executive officer of Campbell’s since January 2019, and will officially retire on Jan. 31, 2025.
“Mark has been a transformational leader for the past six years and has positioned Campbell’s for ongoing success,” Campbell’s Chair of the Board of Directors Keith McLoughlin said. “He has assembled one of the top leadership teams in food and together they have built one of the best portfolios in the industry. We are grateful for Mark’s many contributions, which will have lasting impact on Campbell’s business and culture.”
Since joining Campbell’s in 2019, Clouse has led a transformation to reshape the company’s portfolio toward category-leading brands and made soup a key element of the company’s growth strategy. Under his leadership, the company has delivered strong business results. He rebuilt foundational capabilities, invested in people and brands, created a highly engaged culture with strong leaders and turned its supply chain into a competitive advantage. In 2024, the company acquired Sovos Brands, Inc., adding one of the fastest growing brands in all of food with Rao’ s to accelerate Campbell’s strategy and provide a substantial runway for sustained profitable growth.
Clouse said, “I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished at Campbell’s over the last six years. We have built what I believe is the best portfolio in food, and the company has never been better positioned for sustainable growth. The company is in excellent hands with Mick at the helm. I want to thank the entire Campbell’s team for their support and commitment to the strategy we have executed together. Campbell’s will always hold a special place in my heart. While I am stepping away a bit earlier than I anticipated, I feel like I have one more act in my career. The Washington Commanders role is a once-in-a-lifetime position that blends my passion for business and love of sports. A leadership role in professional sports is the only thing that would’ve pulled me away from Campbell’s.”
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Meanwhile, the Campbell’s Board of Directors elected Mick Beekhuizen to succeed Clouse and become the 15th CEO in the company’s 155-year history. Beekhuizen has also been elected a director of the company, both effective Feb. 1, 2025. Until then, Beekhuizen will continue in his role as president, Meals & Beverages.
“The Board has had a strong CEO succession process in place for the last several years, and we are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented executives prepared to lead the company as CEO. Mick is a superb leader with a track record of success. The Board is confident that he has all the requisite skills and capabilities to continue to drive the strategy that has delivered consistently strong results and created value for shareholders.”
