Business of Food & Beverage

Embattled Lamb Weston Promotes Michael Smith to CEO

Dec. 27, 2024

In the midst of a restructuring, the current COO replaces Thomas Werner, who will serve in an advisory role through August 31.

Dave Fusaro

Lamb Weston Holdings on Dec. 19 announced Michael Smith (photo above) will be promoted to CEO on Jan. 3. He succeeds Thomas Werner, who also steps down as a member of the board, although he will serve in an advisory role through Aug. 31 to ensure a smooth transition.

Smith currently is chief operating officer, a position he has held since May 2023. He joined the company in 2007 and previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Foodservice, Retail, Marketing and Innovation and Senior Vice President of Growth and Strategy.

Lamb Weston, which was spun off from Conagra in 2016, currently is under siege from activist investor Jana Partners, which owns 5% of the company’s stock. Lamb Weston has endured several quarters of declining sales, recorded a net loss of $36 million in its 2025 second quarter (ending Nov. 24) and has begun a restructuring plan. A Reuters report said Post Holdings has been interested in acquiring the company.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.