CAMDEN, N.J. — Keith R. McLoughlin has been elected chairman of Campbell Soup Co. by the company’s board of directors. He succeeds Les C. Vinney, who has announced his intent to retire on April 15.

Mr. McLoughlin has been a director on Campbell Soup’s board since 2015 and most recently was interim president and chief executive officer from May 2018 to January 2019. He stepped down from the interim role in January when Mark A. Clouse was named president and c.e.o.

Before joining Campbell Soup’s board, Mr. McLoughlin was president and c.e.o. of AB Electrolux and spent more than 20 years in leadership roles at E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co.

Mr. Vinney has been chairman since 2015.

“It has been an honor to serve as a director and as chairman of the Campbell Soup Co.,” Mr. Vinney said. “The board is fortunate to have a strong and capable leader in Keith, whose steady direction has been indispensable over the last year. He has been an adviser and asset to me, our fellow board members, Campbell’s leadership team and our employees. His role as interim president and c.e.o. of Campbell make him uniquely qualified and the logical choice to take on the role of chairman at this important time in Campbell’s history.”

Campbell Soup also announced that J.P. Bilbrey has been appointed to the board, effective in May. Mr. Bilbrey was president and c.e.o. of The Hershey Co. from 2011 to 2017 and chairman of Hershey's board from 2015 to 2018. Prior to Hershey he held senior leadership roles at Mission Foods, Danone Waters of North America, Inc. and The Procter & Gamble Co.

Sara Mathew, a member of the board since 2005, will retire from the board. She has served as chair of the audit committee during her tenure.