SANDPOINT, IDAHO — Kelly Prior has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Litehouse, Inc., an employee-owned manufacturer of refrigerated salad dressings, dips, cheeses and freeze-dried herbs. He previously was president of the company.

In his newly expanded role, Mr. Prior will be responsible for setting Litehouse’s strategic direction and vision.

Mr. Prior joined Litehouse in 2002 and was named chief financial officer in 2005. In 2010, he was promoted to executive vice-president. Mr. Prior took on the role of interim president in 2018 following the retirement of Jim Frank, who had led the company since 2011. In February, he officially moved into the president role.

"The past year has been a dynamic and exciting time for Litehouse," said Curt Hecker, board member of Litehouse. "Along with becoming the No. 1 refrigerated salad dressing brand in the United States, we also acquired two new brands, Sky Valley and Organicville. This acquisition took us from a manufacturer in the produce and deli departments to a manufacturer across multiple categories throughout the grocery store. With this expanded scope, it's imperative we put an individual in the c.e.o. role who has vision and a reputation of moving the business forward. Kelly's track record of strategic thinking, strong business acumen and outstanding relationship skills made him the right choice for the role."