Tyson Foods board adds executive from Alphabet’s X

Tyson Foods has expanded its board to 11 seats with the addition of Dean Banks, an executive from X, an Alphabet Inc. company that invents and launches “moonshot technologies.”

Banks is one of nine independent board members since joining as a director Nov. 15. Tyson Foods said Banks will serve on its governance and nominating committee as well as the strategy and acquisitions committee.

“Our board’s nominating committee recommended Dean because of his unique background in innovation and technology, as well as his experience in developing and investing in start-up companies,” board chairman John Tyson said in a statement. “We believe his experience will support our efforts to better understand and capitalize on the role of technology in the improvement and growth of our company.”

Banks has experience as an entrepreneur, investor and leader in a variety of technology-related businesses. Since 2016, he has been a project lead and a leadership team member for X (formerly known as Google [x]). Banks also serves on the board of Vergent Bioscience, which develops molecular imaging probes for life science research and development.

Banks was previously managing partner of SEED Ventures, a group that  invests in and develops early stage healthcare technologies. He also has served as a consultant to Cleveland Clinic Innovations, CEO of Occelerator, senior vice president of business development and strategic marketing at OrthoHelix (acquired by Tornier, Inc.), was co-founder and CEO of Connective Orthopaedics, and was a vice president at Highland Capital Partners.

Banks has a bachelor’s degree from Miami (Ohio) University and a Harvard University MBA, in addition to serving in the U.S Marine Corps.