Mark Clouse, the chief executive officer of Campbell’s Company, is leaving his post at the soup and snack maker to become president of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
Clouse will stay in his position until Jan. 31, the company said on Tuesday. Mick Beekhuizen, president of meals and beverages, will succeed Clouse on Feb. 1.
Clouse became CEO in early 2019. A veteran of the packaged-food industry, he helped to stabilize the company, which at the time was suffering from canned soup’s steady decline. Since then, he has helped to diversify Campbell’s by adding Sovos Brands, which makes Rao’s tomato sauce, and selling more broths under its Swanson brand.
“The Washington Commanders role is a once-in-a-lifetime position that blends my passion for business and love of sports,” Clouse said in a statement. “A leadership role in professional sports is the only thing that would’ve pulled me away from Campbell’s.”
The company also reported net sales of $2.77 billion on Tuesday, just short of the average analyst estimate. Sales of US soups declined compared to last year because of the timing of Thanksgiving, the company said. Snack sales also declined, including for Pepperidge Farm cookies and Goldfish crackers.
Campbell shares declined 1.7% at 4:28 p.m. in extended New York trading. The stock has gained 5.3% this year through Tuesday’s close.
