Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. has appointed Dave Gardner as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, tapping an internal supply-chain veteran to lead its specialty frozen foods business through what the company describes as its next phase of growth and innovation. Gardner most recently served as AFNA's Chief Supply Chain Officer, giving him direct operational oversight of the manufacturing and logistics infrastructure that underpins the Ontario, Calif.-based company's frozen food portfolio. His elevation to the top role signals a strategic emphasis on execution and operational scale as AFNA seeks to expand its position in the competitive specialty frozen segment. His predecessor, Hiroshi Kaho, has been promoted to Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at Tokyo-based parent Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Kaho's departure from the North American subsidiary follows a multi-year tenure during which he oversaw a period of investment, capability building, and cultural transformation at AFNA — a transition the parent company is now rewarding with a senior global role. The leadership change comes as the broader frozen food category continues to attract investment from both legacy manufacturers and new entrants, driven by sustained consumer demand for convenient, premium-positioned meal solutions. AFNA, which markets its products under a well-being positioning, competes in a segment where supply-chain efficiency and product innovation are increasingly interdependent — a profile that aligns with Gardner's background. Industry observers tracking [executive moves in packaged foods](/leadership/executive-appointments) note that operators are increasingly promoting supply-chain leaders to the CEO seat as margin pressure elevates operational discipline as a board priority. AFNA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc., one of Japan's largest food and amino-acid conglomerates, which provides the North American unit with access to global R&D capabilities and ingredient science. The parent's decision to redeploy Kaho into a human resources leadership function at the corporate level reflects a broader pattern among Japanese multinationals of rotating seasoned regional operators into enterprise-wide talent and culture roles. For context on how parent-company dynamics are shaping North American food subsidiaries, see [recent coverage of Japanese food conglomerates' U.S. strategies](/mergers-acquisitions/japanese-food-conglomerates-us-expansion). AFNA did not disclose financial targets or guidance in connection with the appointment. Written by Michael Politz, Author of [Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1)](https://www.amazon.com/Beverage-Magazines-Guide-Restaurant-Success/dp/1119668964), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.