Karen Colberg is the sole CEO of employee-owned King Arthur Baking

On May 5, 2023, King Arthur Baking Company announced that Karen Colberg, previously co-CEO, would assume the sole CEO position effective May 8 and lead the company’s next chapter of growth. The newsroom post says Ralph Carlton, who had been co-CEO with her, would step down from that role to focus on his health and continue in a strategic advisory capacity.

The same announcement says Brock Barton would become chief financial officer, Janis Abbingsole chief operating officer, and Tony Bass chief sales officer. The company description on the release says King Arthur Baking Company has been sharing the joy of baking since 1790, is headquartered in Norwich, Vermont, is a certified B Corp and a 1% for the Planet member, and is 100 percent employee-owned. It says the company’s flours and mixes are available in supermarkets nationwide.

The company’s author page for Karen Colberg identifies her as chief executive officer and as an employee-owner since 2005. A March 23, 2026 company release, datelined Norwich, Vermont, still describes King Arthur as founded in 1790, a certified B Corp, and 100 percent employee-owned.