Mark Clouse, 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 remain in his position until Jan. 31, the company announced Tuesday. Mick Beekhuizen, president of food and beverage, will succeed Clouse on February 1.
Clouse became CEO in early 2019. A veteran of the packaged food industry, he helped stabilize the company, which at the time was suffering from a steady decline in canned soup. He has since helped diversify Campbell’s by adding Sovos Brands, which makes Rao’s tomato sauce, and selling more soups under its Swanson brand.
“The Washington Commanders role is a once-in-a-lifetime position that combines my passion for the job and my love for the sport,” Clouse said in a statement. “A leadership role in professional sports is the only thing that would draw me away from Campbell.”
The company also reported net sales of $2.77 billion on Tuesday, slightly below the average analyst estimate. Sales of American soups fell compared to last year due to the timing of Thanksgiving, the company said. Snack sales also fell, including Pepperidge Farm cookies and Goldfish crackers.
Campbell shares were down 1.7% at 4:28 p.m. in extended trading in New York. The stock was up 5.3% this year through Tuesday’s close.
