New Albany, Oh., USA - December 16, 2014, New Albany, Oh., USA - Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a food service, processing, and retail company, announced that Steve Davis has stepped down as chief executive officer and a director of the company.
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While the official change will take place on December 15, 2014, Mr. Davis will remain with the Company through the end of the year to assist with the transition process.
Mr. Davis served as Chief Executive Officer of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. since May 2006. He served as Chairman of the Board of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. from September 2006 to October 2014; as
President, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food Restaurants (Yum! Brands) from 2002 to 2006; and as Senior Vice President, Concept Development, Pizza Hut, Inc.(Yum! Brands) from 2000 to 2002.
Mr. Davis served as an executive officer and board and committee member (audit, finance and governance) of publicly traded companies (S&P 100 and S&P 500, including Walgreen Co., Marathon Petroleum Corp. and Century Link).
The Company also announced that its Board has established an interim Office of the Chief Executive to provide ongoing leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Company while a search is conducted for a new CEO.
The Office of the CEO is to be filled by Mark Hood, Chief Financial Officer, and Mike Townsley, President of the Bob Evans Foods business unit. Both will remain in their current positions while carrying out their new responsibilities.
Mr. Hood was named Chief Financial Officer of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. in June 2014. Prior to joining Bob Evans, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Brown Shoe Company, an operator of retail shoe stores and marketer of footwear, from 2006 to 2012.
Previously, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Panera Bread Company, a leader in the quick-casual restaurant business, from 2003 to 2006, after joining that company in 2002. His prior experience includes two decades of service with May Department Stores Company, Inc., Saks Holdings, Inc., and U.S. Loyalty Corporation, in various financial and administrative senior management roles.
A Certified Public Accountant, he began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen LLP. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and Economics from Iowa State University.
Mr. Townsley was named President of the Bob Evans Foods business unit in June 2008. He joined Bob Evans Farms Inc. in 2003 as President and Chief Operating Officer of Owens Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Premium Standard Farms in Kansas City. Premium Standard Farms was the largest fully integrated pork company in the country, with annual sales of $700 million. His prior experience includes three years at Smithfield Foods, and 11 years with IBP Inc. ■