Tyson Foods Operations Executive Hospitalized After Heart Attack

Mike Roetzel, the Tyson Foods Inc. executive who oversees the company’s operations, suffered a heart attack last week while on a family vacation in California.

In a statement provided to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, Tyson Foods spokesman Gary Mickelson said Roetzel, 56, is in intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital.

“Mike and his family are in our prayers during this difficult time,” the statement read.

Roetzel is a Springdale native and a University of Arkansas graduate. He started with Tyson Foods in 1986 as the controller for the transportation and warehousing division.

He was later named director of sales accounting and has held several leadership positions with the company, including director of transportation, vice president of commodity purchasing, and finally, senior vice president of purchasing, the job he held from 2008 through 2013.

As executive vice president for operation services, he has oversight of several areas including food and worker safety, environmental stewardship and compliance, information systems, purchasing, distribution, animal well-being, aviation and corporate services.