MGP Ingredients, Inc., a provider of branded and distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions, announced the company’s board of directors has appointed Julie Francis as president and chief executive officer of MGP, effective today. It is anticipated that Francis will join the MGP Board at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Brandon Gall, who has served as interim president and chief executive officer since Jan. 1, 2025, will continue to serve in his role as chief financial officer. 

“Julie is a proven leader with decades of experience driving growth and value creation across the food and beverage space, making her the ideal candidate to lead MGP forward,” said Martin Roper, chairman of the board, MGP Ingredients. “We are confident in her ability to advance our long-term vision of becoming a premier, branded spirits company, while building on the actions that Brandon and the MGP team have taken to better align our businesses with current consumer trends.”

Francis brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the branded food and beverage industries, with a track record of driving growth. She was previously chief operating officer at Schwan’s Company, a leading producer of frozen foods. Prior to Schwan’s, she served as senior vice president of commercial and category development for Constellation Brands’ Total Beverage Alcohol platform. She previously held multiple leadership positions at The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises, where she played a key role in the integration of the US segments of these two companies to create the Coca-Cola Refreshments (US) subsidiary.

Francis currently is a member of the board of directors of Ascend Wellness Holdings (AAWH) and has also served as a board advisory director for Nottingham Spirk. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Alfred University.