COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 7, 2026--
White Castle, the iconic fast-food hamburger chain and retail consumer packaged goods brand, announced the promotion of Jamie Richardson to chief marketing officer. As CMO, Richardson will play a central role in shaping how White Castle tells its story, connects with Cravers and lives out its brand values. Richardson succeeds Lynn Blashford, who is retiring from White Castle after 15 years of outstanding service, the last six as chief marketing officer.
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“Jamie brings a deep knowledge of our brand, strong relationships across our communities and an unwavering belief in what makes White Castle special,” said Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle and the great-granddaughter of White Castle’s founder, Billy Ingram. “I have full confidence that Jamie will carry forward the strong foundation Lynn has built while continuing to bring fresh ideas and energy to the team.”
“White Castle has been a part of my life for more than 27 years, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as chief marketing officer,” said Richardson, a fourth-generation family member. “We exist to feed the souls of craver generations everywhere. Sharing our story with more cravers and potential cravers helps us do just that. Whether you’re seeking us out at the drive-thru or in your grocer’s freezer aisle, our marketing mission is to make sure you know the Castle has you covered.”
Richardson joined the White Castle home office team in 1998 as regional marketing supervisor. He was promoted to assistant director of marketing, director of marketing and, in 2008, vice president of corporate relations and communications. In that position, he was responsible for shareholder relations, government relations, philanthropy and internal communications. In January 2020, Richardson was given a broader role in the business, becoming vice president of marketing and public relations, where he led a dedicated team to grow the relevance of and reverence for the White Castle brand. Prior to White Castle, Richardson held leadership roles at advertising agency J. Walter Thompson.
As CMO, Richardson will report to White Castle President Anthony Joseph.
A resident of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Richardson and his wife, Kate, are the proud parents of five children. Active in the community, Richardson is a past board chair of the Ohio Restaurant Association and the National Council of Chain Restaurants. He currently serves as a vice chair for the national board of Autism Speaks and is an active volunteer at St. John the Baptist parish.
About White Castle ®
White Castle, America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates about 340 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including “Most Influential Burger of All Time” by Time magazine (2014, The Original Slider ® ) and one of the “10 Most Innovative Dining Companies” by Fast Company (2021). White Castle is known for the legendary engagement of its team members and has received the Great Place to Work ® Certification™ for an extraordinary five consecutive years spanning 2021–2025. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans (Cravers), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the CRAVER NATION REWARDS ® loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. For more information on White Castle and how to Follow Your Crave, visit whitecastle.com.
Editor’s Note: Download an image of Jamie Richardsonhere.
Jamie Richardson was promoted to chief marketing officer at White Castle.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Protesters confronted federal officers Thursday in Minneapolis the day after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The demonstrations came amid heightened tensions after President Donald Trump's administration dispatched 2,000 officers and agents to Minnesota for its latest immigration crackdown.
The killing of 37-year-old Renee Good on Wednesday set off a clash between federal and state officials over whether the shooting appeared justified and whether a Minnesota law enforcement agency had jurisdiction to investigate.
Here's what is known about the shooting:
The woman was shot in her SUV in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from where police killed George Floyd in 2020. Videos taken by bystanders and posted online show an officer approaching a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle.
The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward and a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle draws his gun and immediately fires at least two shots at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.
It is not clear from the videos if the officer gets struck by the SUV, which speeds into two cars parked on a curb before stopping.
It’s also not clear what happened in the lead-up to the shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the SUV was part of a group of protesters that had been harassing agents and “impeding operations” that morning. She said agents had freed one of their vehicles that was stuck in snow and were leaving the area when the confrontation and shooting occurred.
No video has emerged to corroborate Noem’s account. Bystander video from the shooting scene shows a sobbing woman who says the person shot was her wife. That woman hasn’t spoken publicly to give her version of events.
Good died of gunshot wounds to the head.
A U.S. citizen born in Colorado, Good described herself on social media as a “poet and writer and wife and mom." Her ex-husband said Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday and was driving home when she encountered ICE agents on a residential street.
He said Good and her current partner moved to Minneapolis last year from Kansas City, Missouri.
Good's killing is at least the fifth death to result from the aggressive U.S. immigration crackdown the Trump administration launched last year.
Noem said Thursday that there would be a federal investigation into the shooting, though she again called the woman’s actions “domestic terrorism.”
“This vehicle was used to hit this officer,” Noem said. “It was used as a weapon, and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy."
Vice President JD Vance said the shooting was justified and referred to Good's death as "a tragedy of her own making.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara gave no indication that the driver was trying to harm anyone when he described the shooting to reporters Wednesday. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had watched videos of the shooting that show it was avoidable.
Noem has not publicly identified the officer who shot Good. But she spoke of an incident last June in which the same officer was injured when he was dragged by another driver’s fleeing vehicle. A Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed Noem was referring to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Court records from that case identify the officer who was dragged and injured as Jonathan Ross.
Court documents say Ross got his arm stuck in a vehicle’s window as a driver fled arrest in Bloomington, Minnesota. The officer was dragged 100 yards (91 meters) and cuts to his arm required 50 stitches.
Drew Evans, head of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said Thursday that federal authorities have denied the state agency access to evidence in the case, barring the state from investigating the shooting alongside the FBI.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz demanded that state investigators be given a role, telling reporters that residents would otherwise have a difficulty accepting the findings of federal law enforcement.
“And I say that only because people in positions of power have already passed judgment from the president to the vice president to Kristi Noem," Walz said.
Noem denied that Minnesota authorities were being shut out, saying: “They don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation."
Dozens of protesters Thursday morning outside a Minneapolis federal building being used a base for the immigration crackdown. Border Patrol officers fired tear gas and doused demonstrators with pepper spray to push them back from the gate.
Area schools were closed as a safety precaution.
Protests were also planned across the U.S. in cities including New York, New Orleans and Seattle.
Protesters confront federal agents outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)
People gather for a vigil after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a motorist earlier in the day, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
People participate in a protest and vigil after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
