Smith Takes Over as CEO at Tyson

Tyson Foods has named Donnie Smith president/CEO and Jim Lochner COO. Smith is currently senior group vice president of Poultry and Prepared Foods while Lochner is senior group vice president of Fresh Meats.

Leland Tollett, who has been serving as interim president and CEO of the company since January, will assist Smith and Lochner in the transition and he will be available for strategic advice and support.

Smith joined Tyson in 1980 and has held 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.

Lochner was president/CEO of IBP, Inc., when the company was acquired by Tyson in 2001, when he was named group vice president of Tyson Fresh Meats. He was then named Tyson Foods' senior group vice president of Margin Optimization in 2005 before becoming senior group vice president of Fresh Meats in 2007.