Kahiki Foods announced that Alan Hoover has been officially named president after a four-month tenure as acting president following the passing of company founder Michael Tsao on July 22.

Alice Tsao, chairwoman of the board of directors, said, "Hoover has shown very effective leadership skills over the past four months, and the board has confidence that he can take the business to a higher level. He knows our business well and has a strong passion to make the company even more successful."

Hoover joined the company in May 1999 as senior vice president of Sales and Marketing and helped lead the company from $2.6 million in sales to nearly $19 million during his tenure in that position. He also served on the Kahiki board of directors for five years. Prior to Kahiki, Hoover spent 21 years in the food packaging business with Sonoco Products, International Paper and Pactiv Corporation.

Hoover received an Administrative Management degree from Clemson University and has an MBA in Financial Management from Benedictine University, where he graduated with distinction. Hoover currently serves as an advisory board member for the National Refrigerated and Frozen Foods Association.