Chief Executive Officer Role, Robert D. Mills Takes the Helm at B&G Foods
B&G Foods, Inc. has announced the appointment of Robert “Rob” D. Mills as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The leadership change marks a new chapter for the food company as it works to strengthen its portfolio, improve operating performance and establish a stronger foundation for sustainable long-term growth.
Mills, who has served on B&G Foods’ Board of Directors since March 2018, succeeds Casey Keller, who retired from his positions as President, Chief Executive Officer and director at the end of the previous week. With more than two decades of experience in business operations, corporate strategy, digital transformation, technology, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational leadership, Mills brings a broad range of capabilities to his new role.
His appointment comes at an important time for B&G Foods as the company continues efforts to reshape its brand portfolio, enhance margins and cash flow, reduce debt and leverage, and improve overall business performance. The company expects Mills’ experience in transformation and strategic execution to help accelerate these initiatives.
Experienced Executive to Lead B&G Foods
Mills has developed an extensive leadership background across large-scale consumer and retail organizations. His career has included responsibilities spanning strategy, operations, digital commerce, technology, artificial intelligence, business development and M&A. He has also held roles with direct profit-and-loss accountability, giving him experience balancing strategic priorities with operational execution and financial performance.
Since joining Tractor Supply Company in 2014, Mills has held several senior executive positions with progressively greater responsibilities. His most recent position was Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Digital and Pet Services.
In that role, Mills was responsible for establishing the company’s technology strategy and overseeing its digital operations. He also contributed to the company’s broader long-term strategic direction, including mergers and acquisitions. His responsibilities extended beyond technology and digital operations to include Tractor Supply’s veterinary and pet pharmacy businesses and its Petsense retail business.
During his tenure at Tractor Supply, Mills played a role in large-scale transformation and growth initiatives within the multibillion-dollar publicly traded company. His work focused on improving execution, accelerating growth, enhancing customer experiences and using digital tools, data and technology to increase productivity and strengthen business performance.
Before joining Tractor Supply, Mills held senior leadership roles at Ulta Beauty Inc. and Sears Holding Corp. These experiences further expanded his background in retail, operations, strategy and technology and helped prepare him for leadership of a complex consumer-facing organization.
Focus on Transformation and Growth
Mills’ appointment comes as B&G Foods pursues several strategic priorities designed to improve the company’s financial and operational position. These priorities include reshaping its portfolio of brands, strengthening margins, improving cash flow and reducing debt and leverage.
The company is also seeking to improve the performance of its business and position its brands for sustainable growth. Mills’ background in portfolio management, M&A, digital transformation and operational improvement is expected to support these objectives.
Stephen C. Sherrill, Chair of the Board of Directors of B&G Foods, said Mills is well positioned to guide the company through its next phase of development. Sherrill highlighted Mills’ eight years of experience as a member of B&G Foods’ Board, noting that his familiarity with the company provides him with an understanding of its brands, employees, business challenges and opportunities.
According to Sherrill, Mills combines that institutional knowledge with experience leading transformation and operating at scale. His ability to move strategy into execution is expected to allow him to begin advancing B&G Foods’ priorities immediately.
Sherrill also emphasized Mills’ leadership qualities, describing him as a decisive executive with a strong sense of urgency, accountability and action-oriented approach. The Board believes those characteristics will be important as B&G Foods works to accelerate strategic initiatives, improve performance and generate long-term value for shareholders.
Technology and AI as Strategic Priorities
Mills’ background in technology and digital transformation could also introduce additional capabilities to B&G Foods as the company looks for new ways to improve productivity and strengthen its brands.
In discussing his priorities as CEO, Mills pointed to digital technologies, data, technology and artificial intelligence as important tools for modern businesses. He said these capabilities can support growth, improve productivity, enable faster and better decision-making, and transform how companies operate.
For B&G Foods, this approach could complement existing efforts in brand management, portfolio optimization, capital allocation and operational discipline. By combining technology-enabled decision-making with disciplined execution, the company aims to strengthen its core brands and improve overall business performance.
Mills said his immediate priorities will include execution, operating discipline and accelerating growth. He also expressed enthusiasm about bringing additional capabilities to the organization and working with B&G Foods’ employees and Board of Directors to build on the company’s existing strengths.
Building on B&G Foods’ Brand Portfolio
B&G Foods has an established portfolio of consumer food brands that provides a foundation for its growth strategy. Mills said the company has meaningful consumer recognition across its brands and believes there are opportunities to improve their performance.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the company has significant work ahead. His approach is expected to emphasize execution and accountability while maintaining a long-term perspective on portfolio management and capital allocation.
The company’s focus on reshaping its portfolio could involve determining where to invest resources, which brands offer the strongest growth opportunities and how the business can improve the performance of its existing assets. Mills’ experience evaluating and integrating businesses through M&A could also be relevant as B&G Foods considers future strategic opportunities.
Leadership Transition
The transition follows Keller’s retirement after serving as B&G Foods’ President and CEO. Mills’ existing relationship with the company and Board provides continuity while also bringing a new leadership perspective focused on transformation, technology and growth.
Because Mills has already served as a director for eight years, he enters the CEO role with considerable familiarity with B&G Foods. That experience could help reduce the learning curve typically associated with a new chief executive and allow the company to move quickly on its strategic priorities.
As Mills begins his tenure, B&G Foods is positioning the leadership transition around a combination of operational discipline, portfolio management, technology adoption and financial improvement. The company’s stated objective is to strengthen its core business while creating a more sustainable platform for future growth.
Mills said he believes strongly in B&G Foods’ potential and is committed to working with the company’s workforce to accelerate growth and create sustainable long-term value for shareholders.
His appointment therefore represents more than a change in executive leadership. It signals B&G Foods’ intention to combine its established portfolio and consumer recognition with a more technology-enabled and execution-focused approach to growth. With Mills’ experience spanning strategy, operations, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, M&A and large-scale transformation, the company will look to his leadership to help navigate its next stage of development and improve its competitive position in the food industry.
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