The Washington Commanders officially appointed Mark Clouse as their new team president on Tuesday, assigning the seasoned food industry executive to oversee all aspects of the organization’s business operations starting in late January.

Clouse, 56, joins the NFL franchise after spending the last five years as the president and CEO of Campbell’s Company, which recently rebranded from Campbell Soup Co. This marks Clouse’s debut in professional sports management. He is a former basketball player at Army-West Point and also has a background as a helicopter pilot, serving for six and a half years before pivoting to marketing roles at Kraft Foods.

In making the announcement, controlling owner Josh Harris praised Clouse as a dynamic leader with a commendable history of elevating organizations and crafting brands that resonate with consumers. He expressed confidence in Clouse’s commitment to fostering a championship-level organization while enhancing football operations in pursuit of excellence on the field.

Clouse takes over from Jason Wright, who made history in 2020 as the first Black president of an NFL team under former owner Dan Snyder. Although Wright remained with the organization under new ownership, he announced earlier this year that he would step down at the end of the current season.

Having led Campbell’s, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey—where the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers have a practice facility, also owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment—Clouse expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Commanders into a new era of growth.

“The dedicated fanbase of the Commanders, which has supported this team for many years, deserves nothing short of our absolute commitment to success,” Clouse stated. He emphasized his eagerness to work alongside ownership, general manager Adam Peters, and head coach Dan Quinn in their collective effort to establish a championship-caliber organization.

Since acquiring the team from Snyder in 2022, Harris and his group, which includes Mitch Rales and Magic Johnson, have been making significant changes to both Washington’s football and business operations. Under the leadership of Peters and Quinn, the Commanders have started their season strong with an 8-5 record, and ticket sales are on the rise after experiencing a downturn during Snyder’s tenure.