David A. Ciesinski (MSIA '96)

President, CEO & Director of Lancaster Colony Corporation,
President of T. Marzetti Company

David A. Ciesinski is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC) and President of T. Marzetti Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Lancaster Colony is a $2 billion manufacturer and marketer of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice markets. Established in 1961, Lancaster Colony operates 13 production facilities in 7 states and employs 3,400 people.

Dave joined Lancaster Colony in 2016 as President, Chief Operating Officer and Director and was promoted to his current position in 2017. Since joining, he has rebuilt the company leadership team and led the development and implementation of the company’s Better Food Company growth plan, which has nearly doubled the size of the business and consistently delivered top-quartile financial results and world-class workplace safety. 

Within the foodservice segment, Lancaster Colony is a trusted partner and supplier to 13 of the top 30 restaurant operators in the United States, including Chick-fil-A, Buffalo Wild Wings, Domino’s, and Wendy’s. Within the retail segment, Lancaster Colony’s top brands include Marzetti, New York Bakery, Sister Schubert’s, and the following sauces sold exclusively under license agreements: Chick-fil-A sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings sauces, Subway sauces, and Olive Garden dressings.

Dave previously served as Executive Vice President and President of Kraft’s Meal Solutions division. He is also a 13-year veteran of H.J. Heinz Company, where he was the Vice President of Corporate Strategy from 2004 to 2006, Vice President of the U.S. Ketchup franchise from 2006 to 2011, and Vice President and CMO of its U.S. Consumer Products division. He later became Vice President of Global Business Development, leading the transaction to sell H.J. Heinz to an investment consortium consisting of 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway.

Dave is also a member of the Board of Directors for Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG), one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the United States.

Dave is a graduate of West Point and a veteran of the U.S. Army, with service during the first Gulf War in Iraq where he earned a Bronze Star Medal. He also earned a Master’s of Science in Industrial Administration from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. 

Dave and his wife Trish have six children and reside in Columbus, Ohio.