Tyson Foods Inc. Announces Retirements, New Positions

Tyson Foods Inc. on Monday announced the upcoming retirement of two key members of the company’s management team. COO Jim Lochner is set to retire in September while Donald E. “Buddy” Wray, special assistant to the president and CEO, will retire in February.

Lochner’s retirement comes after more than 30 years at Tyson. He has served since 2009 as the company’s chief operating officer. Lochner is relocating to Tyson’s fresh meats headquarters in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, where he will support the fresh meats business. Following retirement, Lochner will serve the company in an advisory capacity through the end of 2017.

“This company and I personally cannot thank Jim Lochner enough for his huge contribution — which continues for several more years,” said Donnie Smith, Tyson’s president and CEO.

Wray served the company in various leadership roles until his retirement as president and COO in 2000. In 2008 he was called back by Don Tyson to provide strategic counsel.

“Buddy has invested more than 50 years of his life in Tyson Foods,” Smith said. “He has been a trusted advisor to me during a phenomenal period in our company’s history.”

In a company news release, Smith also announced new leadership positions that will report to the CEO:

• President of Prepared Foods, Customer and Consumer Solutions — Donnie King, currently senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods
• President of Poultry — Noel White, currently senior group vice president of fresh meats

• President of Fresh Meats — Steve Stouffer, currently senior vice president of beef margin management

• Group Vice President of International — James Young, currently group vice president of international

• Executive Vice President of Strategy and New Ventures — Hal Carper, currently group vice president of R&D, logistics and technical services

• Executive Vice President of Program Management — Russell Tooley, currently senior vice president of corporate and international human resources