Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA) has announced the appointment of Dave Gardner as president and chief executive officer, succeeding Hiroshi Kaho.

The role became effective on 1 April 2026, with Gardner (pictured above) set to lead the speciality frozen food manufacturer through its next phase of growth and innovation.

Former president and CEO Kaho has been promoted to executive officer and executive VP, chief human resources officer for Tokyo-based parent company Ajinomoto Co. During his previous role, he led AFNA through a multi-year investment period, helping to shape the company’s cultural transformation and expand its capabilities.

Gardner brings more than 35 years of food industry experience and served as AFNA’s chief supply chain officer since 2022. During this time, he led manufacturing and end-to-end supply chain operations across the group’s eight US production facilities. He also oversaw capacity expansions and asset optimisation across the company’s manufacturing network.

His previous role involved close collaboration with the CEO to translate long-term strategy into operational reality. With a focus on a ‘people-first culture,’ he led a cross-functional cost transformation initiative that delivered $35 million in first-year savings while improving customer service.

Previously, Gardner has held senior leadership positions at food businesses such as Amy’s Kitchen and Ingredion.

For his tenure as CEO, Gardner has identified three priorities: elevating operational excellence as a company-wide discipline; accelerating innovation and brand-building; and continuing to develop the company’s leadership aligning with AFNA’s mission to ‘make everyday eating a happy experience’.

He commented: “AFNA is positioned for growth. We have a unique culture that has allowed us to attract and retain the best talent. We have deep-rooted R&D and culinary expertise that extends through our global network and strong manufacturing platform”.

“My intention is to take our company to the next level, establishing Ajinomoto as a recognised wellbeing brand feeding an appetite for authentic, globally inspired food.”

Predecessor Kaho described Gardner as “the right leader at the right moment,” adding: “Dave's track record of building high-performing teams, integrating businesses at scale and translating complex strategies into operational results makes him uniquely suited to lead AFNA into its next chapter.”

US frozen food retail sales currently exceed $90 billion annually, according to Circana data. Additionally, Asian and multicultural frozen foods are ranked among the top innovation drivers in both retail and foodservice, supported by growing consumer demand for authentic global flavours, according to Euromonitor International and Innova Market Insights.

AFNA’s portfolio of culturally inspired frozen food brands, with a strong presence across US foodservice and retail, includes Ajinomoto, Ling Ling, Tai Pei, and José Olé among others. It benefits from parent company Ajinomoto Co’s global position in amino acid research and innovation, supporting the development of science-backed foods designed to support healthy lifestyles.