Hormel Foods names new president and interim CEO

John Ghingo was named president of Hormel Foods Corp. and Jeffrey M. Ettinger will serve as interim CEO. Both men assume their leadership roles on July 14, and on that day, Ghingo will also join the Hormel Foods board of directors. They will replace Jim Snee, who announced plans to retire as president and CEO in January.

In his current role as executive vice president for Hormel’s Retail business segment, Ghingo leads the company’s largest business unit and oversees its portfolio of consumer brands. In his role as president, he will directly oversee the company’s Retail, Foodservice and International business segments. He will also lead the company’s global operations, supply chain, research and development, and corporate strategy functions. Ghingo will become the 11th person to hold the position of president in the company’s nearly 135-year history.

Ettinger, a current member of the board of directors, will serve as interim CEO for a defined period of 15 months. He has nearly three decades of experience with the company, retiring in 2016 after a successful tenure as president and CEO, and serving on the company’s board of directors as well as leading The Hormel Foundation, an unaffiliated nonprofit organization with a charitable mission that beneficially owns approximately 46% of Hormel Foods’ outstanding common stock.

In announcing the appointments, Bill Newlands, chairman of the Hormel Foods board of directors, noted that they come after an extensive search. “The board is thrilled to elevate John to the role of president of Hormel Foods and elect him to the board of directors. We are also very thankful to Jeff for his willingness to return as interim CEO for the next 15 months. We are confident that Jeff’s valuable experience with the public markets and investment community, as well as his deep understanding of our culture, will complement John’s expertise with consumer-relevant innovation, brand building and strategy.”