Ruiz Foods veteran Kimberli Carroll will take the reins of the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the U.S. Photo contributed

The country’s largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer founded in the Central Valley announced a transition Friday in its executive leadership and board.

The Ruiz Food Products, Inc. board selected the company’s current Chief Operating Officer Kimberli Carrol as its new president and CEO.

Carol will also serve on the board of directors.

Current CEO Dan Antonelli will transition to executive board chair. Antonelli oversaw a number of new initiatives for the firm that makes burritos and other products under the El Monterey label.

Antonelli served amid a number of new initiatives for the company founded in Dinuba, including moving the corporate headquarters to Texas.

Kim Ruiz Beck, an owner at Ruiz Foods and current board chair, remains on the board as an owner-director.

The changes will go into effect Jan. 21.

Carroll was promoted to chief operating officer in September 2023 and previously served as executive vice president, general manager and chief commercial officer for the company’s foodservice and retail business.

“I am humbled and honored to lead one of the finest family-owned companies in America,” Carroll said.

Leadership under Carroll will be familiar for the Ruiz Foods team.

“Kim Carroll quite literally grew up inside the Ruiz Foods organization over two decades. She began her career in marketing, was a member of the team that developed and deployed the most successful new product in the company’s history, and has served as a leader implementing dynamic, transformative change throughout our entire supply, production and distribution chains,” said Beck in a statement