Feb 4, 2026Lamb Weston names new executives
Global frozen potato processor Lamb Weston Holdings has appointed a board executive chair and a new chief financial officer.
Jan Craps brings decades of international market experiences to the newly created executive chair role, according to a news release. He most recently served as CEO and co-chair of Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC (Asia-Pacific) and CEO APAC for Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Craps, who began his career at McKinsey & Co., has managed strategic integrations and transformations and led multibillion-dollar consumer businesses across Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia, according to the release.
Also, James (Jim) D. Gray will join Lamb Weston as CFO, succeeding Bernadette Madarieta, who will serve in an interim advisory capacity.
“The experience and vision Jan and Jim bring to Lamb Weston will be critically important as we execute our Focus to Win strategy,” Mike Smith, Lamb Weston president and CEO, said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with them as we prioritize markets and channels, strengthen customer partnerships, achieve executional excellence and set the pace for innovation.”
Bradley Alford will transition from chairman of the board to lead independent director, the company said.
“I have a strong admiration for Lamb Weston as one of the premier foodservice companies in the world,” Craps said. “I look forward to partnering with Mike to capitalize on the strong opportunity in front of us to drive shareholder returns in this attractive, growing category.”
Gray spent the last 12 years with Ingredion, a global ingredients solutions company, where he served as executive vice president and CFO. He began his career at Bain & Co. and held finance leadership roles with PepsiCo for more than a decade.
