Leadership

Jan Craps headshot, with green background

Jan Craps

Executive Chair

Jan Craps joined Lamb Weston in February 2026 as executive chair to elevate the company’s potential and performance. In addition to board leadership, Jan focuses on M&A, governance, oversight, international market execution, and long-term strategy for Lamb Weston.

Prior to joining Lamb Weston, Jan spent more than 20 years with Anheuser-Busch InBev, most recently as the CEO and Co-Chair of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, and CEO, APAC for Anheuser-Busch InBev. Jan began his career with McKinsey & Company.

Over his more than 20 years of experience in consumer goods and beverages, Jan has shaped emerging and complex markets globally, managed strategic integrations and transformations, and has led and grown multibillion dollar consumer businesses across Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia.

Jan holds a master’s degree in business engineering from KU Leuven and completed executive education courses at Wharton-INSEAD.

Mike Smith

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mike Smith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lamb Weston and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Mike is responsible for the vision, culture and strategy that will propel Lamb Weston forward as a global leader in frozen potato products. Prior to being appointed to this role in January 2025, Mike was the Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw Lamb Weston’s global end-to-end operations. Mike has held various leadership positions since joining Lamb Weston in 2007, including Senior Vice President, Foodservice, Retail, Innovation and Marketing, where he led the commercial teams for the North American Foodservice and Retail businesses and oversaw all innovation and marketing activity.

Mike holds a Master of Business Administration from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University.

Mike Crowley

President, North America

Mike Crowley was named President, North America in January 2025. Mike is responsible for all Lamb Weston commercial channels in North America, including Foodservice, Retail, and Multi-National Chains.

Mike previously served as Senior Vice President & General Manager, Multinational-Chains, where he oversaw strategic global customer partnerships and worked closely with Lamb Weston operations worldwide.

Mike has over 25 years of experience working across every aspect of Lamb Weston’s business, including overseeing production and quality assurance at several North American processing facilities, corporate quality assurance, managing key global customer relationships, and several commercial leadership roles.

Mike holds a Business Management degree from Washington State University.

Portrait

James D. Gray

Chief Financial Officer

James D. Gray joined Lamb Weston as chief financial officer in April 2026, leading the company’s global financial strategy and functions. Previously, Jim served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Ingredion, a leading global ingredients solutions company, where he oversaw global accounting, finance, internal audit, treasury, investor relations and tax functions. Jim has served as a Director and member of the audit committee for Rahfan Maize, a Pakistan stock exchange traded company, for the last seven years.

Prior to Jim’s 12 years with Ingredion, he served in executive leadership functions with PepsiCo for more than a decade, including as chief financial officer, Gatorade division; vice president finance, PepsiCo, Inc.; and vice president finance, PepsiCo Beverages North America. James began his career at Bain & Company, where he led strategic growth projects with assignments in both the U.S. and Europe over a ten-year period.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree with distinction from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Benjamin Heselton

Chief Information Officer

Benjamin (Ben) Heselton joined Lamb Weston as Chief Information Officer in May 2025.

Ben is accountable for establishing and executing Lamb Weston's global technology strategy and will serve as a critical point of contact between all areas of the company and their technology execution.

Ben joined Lamb Weston from Wurth IT USA, where he was the Chief Technology Officer, supporting IT services for all Wurth North American Operations.

Ben has a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, and an MBA from the University of Rochester.

Marc Schroeder

President, International

Marc Schroeder was named President, International in May 2023 and oversees all of Lamb Weston’s international commercial business, including China, Greater Asia, EMEA, Latin America, and Oceana. 

Marc previously served as CEO of Lamb Weston/Meijer since January 2021 and was responsible for all strategic affairs, accountable for the overall business performance. 

Marc holds an International Baccalaureate from St. Clare’s, Oxford and a Master of Science in Business/Managerial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Eryk J. Spytek

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

Eryk Spytek, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, joined Lamb Weston in October 2016. He leads the company’s Legal, Regulatory and Compliance organization, overseeing global Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs matters. He also provides executive oversight for Lamb Weston’s corporate Environmental, Health & Safety and Food Safety & Quality functions. In addition, he serves on the board of the Lamb Weston Foundation.

Before joining Lamb Weston, Eryk was a corporate partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, where he advised clients on complex corporate finance, governance, and disclosure issues, and subsequently served as general counsel or deputy general counsel for two other NYSE-listed companies.

Eryk holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a Master of Laws (LLM) from The London School of Economics & Political Science. 

Sylvia Wilks

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Sylvia Wilks was named Chief Supply Chain Officer in August 2024.  

Sylvia oversees Lamb Weston's Global Supply Chain organization, including Manufacturing, Procurement, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement. She joined Lamb Weston from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), where she served as their first Chief Supply Chain Officer. 

Sylvia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Design & Manufacture from Hull University, UK and completed UCLA’s Corporate Governance Program.

Steven Younes

Chief Human Resources Officer

Steve Younes was named Chief Human Resources Officer in January 2022. 

Steve is accountable for all of Lamb Weston’s Human Resources functions and provides strategy in support of the company’s overall business plan and strategic direction.

Steve joined Lamb Weston from Loews Hotels & Co., where he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Steve holds a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac College School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Moravian College. 

Greg Jones

Vice President and Controller

Greg Jones was named Vice President and Controller in August 2021 and leads Lamb Weston’s Accounting, Reporting, and Financial Planning and Analysis organizations.

Greg joined Lamb Weston in 2016 as Director of Financial Reporting and played an integral role establishing our financial reporting team. He has more than 20 years of experience in finance at public companies and auditing firms. Prior to Lamb Weston, he was the Director of Paper Finance at Packaging Corporation of America. He also worked at Boise Inc., where he served in roles of increasing responsibility in the finance department, including Director of Investor Relations; and Deloitte & Touche, as Audit Senior Manager.

Greg is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a Master of Accountancy degree from Brigham Young University. He serves as a board member and Treasurer for the Lamb Weston Foundation.

Phuong Lam

Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Phuong Lam was named Vice President and Corporate Secretary in November 2020. Phuong focuses on SEC and NYSE compliance, corporate governance, shareholder matters, and supporting the company’s Board of Directors. She also advises the organization on various financing, strategic, legal, and compliance matters.

Phuong joined Lamb Weston in 2017 as Senior Counsel, Securities and Governance. Prior to that, she was Chief Counsel, Securities, at The Kraft Heinz Company where she was responsible for compliance with the securities and stock exchange rules and regulations. She also advised on matters related to Kraft’s Board of Directors, as well as M&A and financing transactions. Previously, Phuong was SEC Counsel at SIRVA, Inc. and began her legal career as an associate at the law firm Jones Day. 

Phuong earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School. She serves as a board member and Secretary for the Lamb Weston Foundation.