Butterball CEO Kerry Doughty resigns citing health issues

Kerry Doughty, president and CEO of Butterball has resigned because of lingering health problems, the company announced Monday, (Dec. 17).

The turkey company has promoted Jay Jandrain to succeed Doughty effective immediately. Doughty held the job for five years and spent the past 10 years at Butterball. Earlier this year, Doughty received the 2018 Poultry Person of the Year Award presented by Urner Barry Publishing. He is also credited with the launch of the company’s first “no antibiotics ever” products as well as an organic line.

“I knew when I took the job that Butterball had a great brand and strong presence in the market. What I didn’t know was how good the people were at Butterball,” Doughty said. “I’ve been extremely impressed with the quality of people up and down the line, from hourly associates to senior executives.”

Walter Pelletier, director for the company, said Doughty has been a strong leader during his tenure and among his most valuable contributions is the recruitment and development of an excellent management capable of taking the company forward.

Jandrain comes into the new role with vast experience, having previously served as chief operating officer for Butterball where he oversaw plant operations, corporate purchasing, transportation and warehousing, demand and supply planning, corporate engineering and research and development (R&D). He joined the company in 2002 as the director of product R&D and then moved into sales management over deli, having also held executive roles over business strategies for Butterball.

Before joining Butterball, Jandrain held management positions at Cargill and Plantation Foods. He has a bachelor’s degree in food science from Cornell University.

The company said a search for Jandrain’s replacement as COO is now underway. Butterball operates three turkey processing plants in Arkansas and contracts with dozens of growers around the state serving plants in Huntsville, Ozark and Jonesboro.