Lankford to Retire at Affiliated Foods

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

George Lankford

AMARILLO, Texas — Affiliated Foods here said Thursday George Lankford plans to retire as president and chief executive officer of the $1.1 billion cooperative effective Oct 2.

Succeeding him will be Randy Arceneaux, who was named president and chief operating officer; he will add the title of CEO when Lankford retires.

Lankford has been with Affiliated for more than 20 years, serving as vice president of marketing, executive vice president, and, since 2000, president and CEO.

Arceneaux joined the company last July as vice president and chief operating officer after six years with Affiliated Foods Southwest, Little Rock, Ark. Arceneaux became president of AFS in March 2009, shortly before an ongoing credit crunch forced the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He had been hired by AFS in 2004 as director of its Louisiana division and subsequently promoted to vice president and chief operating officer.

Before joining AFS, he headed the Louisiana division of Fleming Cos. and has more than 30 years of experience in the wholesale and retail industry, Affiliated here said.

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