Steve Hughes has resigned as chief executive officer and as a member of the board of directors for Boulder Brands, Inc., Boulder, CO. The Boulder Brands board of directors has appointed James B. Leighton, the company's chief operating officer, to serve as interim CEO. Mr. Leighton has served as chief operating officer since October 2013 and has been a member of the Boulder Brands board of directors since August 2007.
 
"On behalf of the Board and entire Boulder Brands team, I want to thank Steve for his contributions to the creation, development and growth of the company," said Dean Hollis, chairman of the Boulder Brands board of directors. "Steve's passion and vision for Boulder Brands has helped our industry improve the lives of consumers by providing healthier and more transparent food options. Under his leadership, Boulder Brands, which began as a food industry acquisition vehicle, has grown into a leading publicly traded natural consumer packaged food company with a strong portfolio of relevant health and wellness brands." 
 
"Since co-founding Boulder Brands nearly 10 years ago, I have had the pleasure of working with the most talented employees and management team in the industry," said Mr. Hughes. "As Boulder Brands enters a new period of development, I believe now is the right time for a leadership transition. It has been exciting to watch a simple idea turn into a leading natural foods company with the scale and resources to expand our mission of making people's lives healthier all across the country. I am proud of what we have created together. I am confident that I am leaving the company in excellent hands with Jim and our strong management team, and I look forward to watching the next phase in the evolution of this great company."
 
The company noted that the board has initiated a national search process to identify a permanent CEO. The search process will include a full review of internal and external candidates.