Industry veteran Will Means has joined Middleby as president of Southbend, a manufacturer of ranges, ovens and other cooking equipment based in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
Means will work closely with Middleby Group President John Perruccio for the rest of the year to ensure a smooth management transition. In his new role, Means will be responsible for managing all facets of Southbend operations and directing the brand strategy.
“Will has built a stellar reputation within our industry and is highly respected as an effective leader,” Middleby Chief Commercial Officer Steve Spittle said. “He has cultivated longstanding relationships with customers and the dealer community which will be an asset to our entire organization."
Before joining Middleby, Means worked at Ali Group for 17 years, where he held several senior positions. Most recently he was Welbilt group president and before that he was president of refrigeration brands Beverage-Air and Victory. He is also the former president of Champion Industries. Before his brand president responsibilities began in 2019, Means held various senior sales positions at Ali Group. He is a member of the North American Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) Board of Directors and has earned his NAFEM Certified Food Service Professional (CFSP) designation.