CHICAGO — William Zimmerman, a 45-year veteran of the baking industry, has been named president of The Long Co., effective Sept. 1.

David A. Gardner, chairman of the Long Co., said Mr. Zimmerman was selected following a search process that included interviews of a number of candidates for the position. He said Mr. Zimmerman was selected for his “background and experience in the baking industry, and his enthusiasm for our industry.”

Mr. Gardner is president and chief executive officer of Alfred Nickles Bakery, Inc., Navarre, Ohio.

Mr. Zimmerman has 45 years of experience in baking with roots in the industry going back four generations. He has held positions in production, operations, and sales management. Most recently Mr. Zimmerman owned Zim’s Consulting L.L.C., an operational bakery management consulting company. Earlier he was corporate operations manager at United States Bakery in Portland, Ore., and before then he held positions with Fleischmann’s Yeast, ADM Arkady and SAF Yeast America.

Mr. Zimmerman is an active member of the American Society of Baking and is a member of the Z-50 Safety and Sanitation Committee, a lifetime member of the AIB Alumni Association, a past member of the AIB Education Advisory Committee, a member of the Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturers Association, and the co-founder of the Northwest Bakers Production Club.

As president of The Long Co., Mr. Zimmerman succeeds Douglas Windeler, who had held the position since 2007.