BakeMark USA LLC has named Sean Leer as its new CEO effective immediately, replacing 30-year veteran Jim Parker who will continue as executive chairman. Clearlake Capital Group, the private equity owner of BakeMark, announced the move on May 19.
Leer comes to BakeMark from GS Foods Group Inc., where he served as CEO. He spent nearly 12 years leading GS Foods and its predecessor Gold Star Foods, most recently until mid-May 2026. During his time at GS Foods, he helped grow the company into a national foodservice distribution platform serving school and child nutrition programs.
Scale and footprint
BakeMark serves more than 30,000 customers across bakery channels in the United States and Canada. The company operates 7 manufacturing sites and 39 distribution centers in North America, with a product range spanning mixes, bases, fillings, icings, glazes, frozen baked items and Hispanic bakery solutions. Its portfolio includes brands such as Westco, Trigal Dorado, Best Brands, BakeSense, BakeQwik, C'est Vivant, Sprinkelina, Multifoods and Knoxbridge Mills. BakeMark was acquired by Clearlake Capital in 2021.
Leadership transition
Parker had held the CEO role since October 2019 following the departure of Gary Schmidt. His leadership spans operations, sales, manufacturing and procurement across BakeMark's network. Before returning to the CEO post, Parker served as president and CEO from 2011 to 2018, then transitioned to chairman when Schmidt took over.
Growth mandate
Leer brings more than two decades of food distribution experience to the role. Clearlake's leadership stated that his operational and commercial expertise positions him to expand BakeMark's base of national and local bakery customers, enhance its products and services, and enlarge its distribution and manufacturing footprint across North America. The private equity firm said it plans to apply its O.P.S. operational approach alongside Leer's leadership to drive the next phase of expansion.
Leer also served as CEO of nutrition software provider Colyar Technology Solutions from May 2016 to October 2019 while leading GS Foods.