SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods announces that succeeding Donnie King as the company’s president and CEO will be Jeff Schomburger, effective on Oct. 4.
Schomburger, who retired as Procter & Gamble’s global sales officer in 2019 and held several leadership positions with P&G during his 35-year career with the company, is a 10-year member of the Tyson Foods Board of Directors.
King, who has been with Tyson Foods for 43 years and will remain on the Board of Directors, will be working closely with Schomburger for a several-months long transition beginning in July to establish a smooth transition of leadership, Tyson Foods said in its announcement.
“The board and I are confident in Jeff Schomburger’s ability to lead Tyson Foods into its next chapter of growth,” John H. Tyson, Tyson Foods chairman of the board, said. “His experience will help us accelerate our strategic priorities and unlock new ways to win with customers and consumers — a key focus of our growth strategy. The Board looks forward to working with Jeff to drive sustainable growth, enhance shareholder value, and build on the strong momentum Tyson Foods has established.”
Tyson also noted King’s company successes and innovations, which included leading the company successfully through the COVID-19 pandemic, and gathering the company’s corporate staff at the Springdale World Headquarters.
“Donnie King’s long tenure at Tyson Foods, including his leadership as CEO, has strengthened our business and shaped our culture,” Tyson noted. “We are grateful for his steady guidance and look forward to continuing to leverage his expertise within the Board.”
Since 2016, Schomburger has served on several of Tyson Foods’ committees, which included being chair of Strategy and Acquisition in 2021. He has been the lead independent director of the Tyson board for the past year, which included direct work with company leaders across its many sectors.
Looking ahead, Schomburger, in a statement, said, “I am honored to step into this leadership role and committed to building on the exceptional foundation and legacy of Tyson Foods.”
“I am energized by the opportunity to strengthen our iconic brands with superior products, capitalize on emerging opportunities through AI acceleration, and continue to win with customers and consumers,” he added. “I am grateful to the Board for their confidence, and I look forward to working with our outstanding leadership group and team members to strengthen Tyson Foods’ market leadership for years to come.”
