BusinessWednesday, November 11
CJ Ellens will become Hudsonville Ice Cream's CEO on Jan. 1, 2027
The Good Day Grand Rapids team
If Hudsonville is in your freezer, here's who's running the company next. The Holland-based ice cream maker's board elected CJ Ellens as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027. He's the executive vice president now and has worked in a variety of roles over two decades.
His appointment follows a succession process designed by his parents, Denny and Scoob Ellens, who bought the company in 2003. Denny Ellens died in February at 70.
Ellens takes over a family-owned company on Jan. 1, 2027
- 2003Denny and Scoob Ellens acquire Hudsonville Ice Cream.
- Jan. 2023Tina Floyd becomes CEO.
- Feb. 2026Denny Ellens dies at 70.
- Nov. 2The company announces CJ Ellens as its next CEO.
- Jan. 2027Ellens' first day as CEO.
Sources: WOODTV.com, whtc.com, The Holland Sentinel
Ellens succeeds Tina Floyd, CEO since January 2023. Under her, the company launched a $40 million expansion and created 44 new jobs.
- Floyd: stays involved as an adviser after the handoff
- Ellens' focus: people, technology, partners and new opportunities
Floyd's tenure and the handoff, by the numbers
- $40 million
- expansion launched during Floyd's tenure
- 44
- new jobs created
- 2 months
- transition period with Floyd helping Ellens
Sources: The Holland Sentinel, WOODTV.com, whtc.com, wgvunews