Packaged lunch meat and deli meats processor Land O'Frost, Lansing, Ill., said it promoted President David Van Eekeren to the additional post of chief executive officer, effective immediately. Officials said Donna Van Eekeren continues as executive chairman and will shift her focus from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic planning.

Land O'Frost said David Van Eekeren is the family's third generation to lead the fifty two-year-old business. He has served as company's president since 2008 and started working for Land O'Frost full-time in 1991 as a supervisor in the Searcy, Ark., manufacturing plant.

"Our management team has developed a comprehensive vision for the future and a strategy for the long-term growth of Land O'Frost. I strongly believe that the time has arrived for David to have the full authority to implement this vision for our future," said Donna Van Eekeren.  "The knowledge and experience David has gained from years of working at Land O'Frost coupled with his proven talents as a leader, make him eminently qualified to fill the role of chief executive officer and president. This is a huge step toward keeping the Land O'Frost business in the family for the long-term."

Land O'Frost was founded by Antoon Van Eekeren, David's grandfather. David's father, Paul Van Eekeren then ran the company until his death in 2001, when his wife Donna assumed her role as the company's chief executive officer.

"It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, father and mother by leading Land O'Frost," said David Van Eekeren. "I look forward to continuing the long tradition of growth and innovation first established by my grandfather and built upon by my parents. I also feel very fortunate to be supported by the best management team in the industry and I greatly look forward to continuing to build and differentiate our brand for many years to come."

The company operates three facilities in Lansing, Ill., Madisonville, Ky., and Searcy, Ark.