Mark Clouse, the former CEO of Campbell's, is leaving one team with a winning record to join another. This significant career move has sparked much interest and speculation.

A Leader's Journey from Food to Football

Mark Clouse's Arrival at Campbell's

When Mark Clouse parachuted into Campbell's Camden, N.J., headquarters on Jan. 22, 2019, he faced a historic food company under fire from all sides. Public bickering among descendants of the founder and an attack by activist investor Dan Loeb led to a drop in the stock price. But Clouse, a former pilot in the U.S. Army and decorated captain, wasted no time. He quickly made bold decisions, such as selling the financially volatile Bolthouse Farms beverage business in April 2019 and the Australian snacks unit Arnott's in August 2019. These moves showed his ability to take decisive action in a challenging environment.In addition to these divestitures, Campbell's made other strategic changes during Clouse's tenure. The company focused on core competencies and made innovations in soup and snacks, like Ghost Pepper Chicken Noodle and Frank's RedHot sauce-flavored Goldfish. These efforts paid off, as the company added more than $1 billion in sales from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2024.

Clouse's Success at Campbell's

Under Clouse's leadership, Campbell's shares rose 32% since his first day on the job, relatively in line with big packaged foods player Coca-Cola. PepsiCo, which operates the Frito Lay snacks division, saw its stock rise 42% during the same period. Spam-maker Hormel's stock, on the other hand, dropped 23% since January 2019. These figures demonstrate Clouse's impact on the company's performance.As a swan song, Campbell's last year bought high-end pasta sauce brand Rao's for $2.7 billion, expanding its portfolio. At an investor day several months ago, Clouse changed the company's name to the Campbell's Company to reflect its broader product offerings.

Clouse's Move to the Washington Commanders

Now, Clouse is leaving Campbell's to become the president of the NFL's Washington Commanders. He will report directly to owner Josh Harris, who also owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's New Jersey Devils. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Clouse, as he gets to combine his love for sports with his business acumen.The Washington Commanders currently sit in second place in the NFC East with a record of 8-5, behind the Philadelphia Eagles. It's no surprise that overtaking the Eagles in the division in 2025 is already on Clouse's to-do list. His leadership and experience are expected to bring a new dimension to the team's business operations.Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks.Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance.