Tyson Foods Names New Chief Executive Officer
Published:19-November-2009
By Staff Reporter
Also names new chief operating officer
Tyson Foods, a processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork products, has appointed Donnie Smith, currently senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods, to be the company's president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Additionally, Jim Lochner, currently senior group vice president of fresh meats, has been named the company’s chief operating officer.
Leland Tollett, who has been serving as interim president and CEO of the company since January, will continue in the coming months to assist Mr Smith and Mr Lochner in the transition, and he will be available for strategic advice and support.
Mr Smith joined Tyson Foods in 1980. After seven years experience in various poultry production jobs, he moved to the corporate headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, to join the Tyson commodities purchasing group.
Since then, he has had various leadership roles in the company, including purchasing; environmental, health and safety; food safety and quality assurance; manufacturing services; information systems; and logistics, before becoming senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods.
Mr Lochner, joined IBP later purchased by Tyson, in 1983 as director of research. Previously, he was a quality control food technologist at Oscar Mayer Foods and a laboratory technician at the University of Wisconsin.
