Kevin Todd of Ben E. Keith Company Named 2025 Mike Roach Leadership Award Winner
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Oct. 1, 2025 – The International Foodservice Distributors Association announced Kevin Todd, senior director of national accounts at Ben E. Keith Company, as the 2025 recipient of the Mike Roach Leadership Award. Todd was selected from a class of 30 high-performing foodservice distribution leaders who participated in the IFDA Executive Development Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
The award honors one outstanding participant from each annual class who exemplifies the leadership qualities demonstrated by J. Michael Roach during his distinguished career as president of Ben E. Keith Foods and his 16 years of service on the IFDA Board of Directors, including two years as IFDA chairman.
“Outstanding leaders are vital to foodservice distribution companies in a rapidly changing foodservice industry,” said Mark S. Allen, president and CEO of IFDA. “Kevin Todd embodies the leadership principles that Mike Roach championed throughout his career.”
Todd’s selection was determined through peer nominations and input from Darden faculty based on five key attributes: exceptional communication skills, strong critical thinking, a passion for people, visionary leadership and peer respect.
Throughout the program, Todd’s classmates consistently praised his ability to elevate discussions while maintaining respect for diverse perspectives. One peer noted that Todd’s contributions always included “great ideas that stretched my thinking” while remaining “very polite and engaging.” Another classmate who frequently held opposing views shared: “Kevin and I had views that were almost always opposite. He would listen and respect my words as he disagreed with me. It is wonderful hearing someone else’s point of view but have the respect and professionalism to go with it.”
Todd brings more than 20 years of experience at Ben E. Keith Company, where he has progressed from district sales representative to his current role as senior director of national accounts. He leads a corporate account team that manages more than $2 billion in sales annually across 10 distribution centers serving 20 states in the Southeast region, routinely operating at the C-suite level with some of the largest restaurant brands in the country.
About the International Foodservice Distributors Association
The International Foodservice Distributors Association is a leading trade association serving the foodservice distribution industry, representing companies that deliver food and food-related products to restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools, and other foodservice operations across the United States.
About the Executive Development Program
The IFDA Executive Development Program, conducted in partnership with the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, provides leaders in foodservice distribution with a unique opportunity to grow as strategic thinkers, decision-makers and leaders.
Media Contact:
Kristen Petersen
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
kpetersen@ifdaonline.org
