FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Standard Meat Co. (SMC) announced on May 1 that it hired Keith Blanks as its chief commercial officer.

Blanks will be in charge of developing and implementing overall commercial strategy, with executive responsibility over business development, account management, customer service, culinary, R&D and product development. 

“Keith comes to us with over 30 years of industry experience,” said Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, co-president of Standard Meat. “But it’s not just the length that’s so impressive, it’s the breadth of that experience. Keith began his career at Cargill, first in operations and then in sales, where he had national account responsibility for a fleet of household-name customers. After Cargill, he dove into the rapidly developing food technology space, guiding truly innovative start-ups to positions of global relevance. Keith is the perfect blend of traditionalist and trailblazer for our 4th generation family company, and we are thrilled to bring him on board.”

As part of the senior leadership team, Blanks plans to drive revenue growth by expanding into new markets, acquiring and retaining customers, and introducing new products.

“Our sales team has done a great job, remaining flexible and agile during a period of extraordinary growth. As our company continues to grow and evolve, our leadership team must do the same,” said Ben Rosenthal, chief executive officer and co-president of Standard Meat. “Keith brings out-of-the-box thinking to our team, along with years of experience opening global markets and delivering comprehensive customer satisfaction. With Keith on board, the Standard Meat team is perfectly positioned to seek out opportunities, bring innovative solutions to our clients, and tackle whatever challenges lie ahead.”

Blanks holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. In his career, Blanks has served on industry and community advisory boards and charitable organizations, including working as a chairperson for United Way, a member of the board of trustees for the Washburn Center for Children, and as a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America.