Dive Brief:
- Tyson Foods has named Wes Morris as chief operating officer, the company said Monday. Morris will oversee the company’s chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods and international businesses.
- Morris, who most recently was Tyson’s group president of poultry, will step into his new role on June 15. He succeeds Devin Cole, who is retiring from the company.
- Morris’ hire marks the second major C-suite shakeup for Tyson recently. Late last month, the company announced it hired Jeff Schomburger to take over as CEO beginning in October.
Dive Insight:
The new executive appointments come as Tyson manages declines in its beef business as cattle prices reach an all-time high. Its chicken business, however, has seen growth. Morris’ insider knowledge could help the company improve its protein portfolio overall.
Morris joined Tyson in 1999 and remained there until he retired in 2017 as president of prepared foods operations. He worked with Tyson again as a consultant beginning in 2020, and then was later named group president of poultry in 2023.
“Wes Morris has a proven track record of executing against operational priorities across key segments of our business,” Schomburger said in a statement. “His deep understanding of our operations will be critical as we continue to strengthen performance across the enterprise. We remain focused on executing our strategy with discipline and have the right resources and people to win.”
Tyson produces about 20% of the beef, pork and chicken in the United States and owns several retail brands including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm and Ball Park.
Tyson joins the ranks of other food companies that have recently hired seasoned executives out of retirement, including Simply Good Foods, Boston Beer and Hormel.
