Hormel Foods Announces Executive Retirements and Advancements

Rhea-AI Summary

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) announced the retirements of vice presidents Donnie Temperley and Tim Fritz, effective in spring 2021. Clint Walters and John Forsythe have been promoted to vice presidents of Refrigerated Foods and Grocery Products, respectively. The company also elevated Kari Pollak as the first female plant manager in Austin and Scott Clark to plant manager in Atlanta. CEO Jim Snee praised the retiring leaders for their contributions while expressing confidence in the incoming executives' ability to maintain operational excellence.

Positive

• Promotion of Clint Walters and John Forsythe to vice president roles, ensuring continuity in leadership.
• Kari Pollak's advancement as the first female plant manager in Austin reflects diversity and inclusion efforts.
• Strong leadership transitions may enhance operational stability and efficiency.

Negative

• None.

AUSTIN, Minn., Oct. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a global branded food company, today announced the retirements of Donnie Temperley, vice president of Refrigerated Foods operations, and Tim Fritz, vice president of Grocery Products operations. Both retirements will be effective in spring 2021.

The company also announced the advancement of Clint Walters, currently plant manager of the company's Austin, Minn., manufacturing facility, to the position of vice president of Refrigerated Foods operations, and John Forsythe, currently plant manager of the company's manufacturing facility in Atlanta, Ga., to the position of vice president of Grocery Products operations.

"Donnie and Tim have been inspiring leaders, playing important operational roles for Hormel Foods," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, Hormel Foods. "They joined Hormel Foods at almost the same time, and throughout their distinguished nearly 40-year careers, they have been instrumental in creating a safe, innovative and highly valued plant operations enterprise. Our entire organization is better because of their leadership, and we wish them well in their respective retirements." Snee added, "Fortunately, we have an incredible depth of experience within Hormel Foods, and that certainly is the case with Clint and John, who will be assuming these important operational roles. I am confident that they will move into these roles seamlessly and continue our track record of operational excellence."

In related moves, the company announced the advancement of Kari Pollak to plant manager of the Austin (Minn.) Plant. Pollak will be the first woman to lead the operation, one of the company's largest. She is currently plant manager for the company's Progressive Processing facility. Additionally, the company announced the advancement of Scott Clark to plant manager of the Hormel Foods production facility in Atlanta. Clark is currently the production manager at the facility.

Donnie Temperley

As the vice president of operations for the Refrigerated Foods division at Hormel Foods, Temperley is responsible for the production plants and co-packer operations for the segment.

He joined the company in 1982 and has held various production, management and leadership roles, including plant manager and director roles. He advanced to the level of vice president of Grocery Products operations in 2014 and assumed his current position in May 2016. Originally from East Dubuque, Ill., he is a 2010 graduate of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management Executive Program.

Tim Fritz 

As the vice president of operations for the Grocery Products division at Hormel Foods, Fritz is responsible for the production plants and co-packer operations for the segment.

Fritz joined Hormel Foods in 1984 and has held various supervisor, production superintendent and personnel manager roles until being named the corporate manager, and later, director of industrial relations at the Corporate Office. He was named plant manager of the company's Austin Plant in 2011 and assumed his current role in April 2016. Originally from Beardstown, Ill., Fritz is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in business administration. He is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management Executive Program. Fritz has served as a board member and chair for the United Way of Mower County, Austin Area Catholic Schools and Austin Youth Basketball. He is a past president of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Clint Walters

Walters currently holds the position of plant manager for the company's Austin, Minn., food manufacturing facility. He began his career in 1995 at Dold Foods in Wichita, Kan., and held various production supervisor and superintendent roles at both Dold and Osceola Food. He held plant manager roles at Lloyd's Barbeque Company and later was promoted to plant manager at Osceola Food and to his current role in 2016. Walters earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Central University of Iowa.

John Forsythe

Currently serving as plant manager for Hormel Foods operations in Atlanta, Forsythe began his career with the company in 2000 as an industrial engineer. He continued his career in engineering until moving into plant operations leadership in 2011, assuming superintendent and plant manager roles in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin. He moved into his current role in 2016. Forsythe is a graduate of Montana State University – Bozeman with a bachelor's degree in industrial and management engineering.

Kari Pollak

Pollak joined Hormel Foods in 1999 at the company's Austin Plant. She will return as plant manager to the plant where she began her career, holding the top operations position in the facility. Over her more than 20 years with the company, she has held supervisory and leadership roles at several of the company's food manufacturing facilities, including serving as plant manager for Swiss American Sausage Company operations and Progressive Processing, where she is plant manager.

Pollak is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, having earned a bachelor's degree with a focus on business.

Scott Clark

Clark recently joined Hormel Foods as production manager at the company's Atlanta food facility. He has more than 25 years of operations and engineering experience with other large food companies. He has served in various operational and management leadership roles with J&J Snack Foods, ConAgra Brands and Kraft Foods. Clark is a veteran of the United States Army, where he held the position of Company Commander as well as other officer- and staff-level positions.

Clark graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in mechanical engineering from Southern University and A&M College. He received a master's of business administration degree in operations management, management and strategy, and management and organizations from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

About Hormel Foods — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY^®, SPAM^®, Hormel^® Natural Choice^®, Applegate^®, Justin's^®, Wholly^®, Hormel^® Black Label^®, Columbus^® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com.

 

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SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

FAQ

What leadership changes are occurring at Hormel Foods?

Hormel Foods announced the retirements of vice presidents Donnie Temperley and Tim Fritz, effective spring 2021, with Clint Walters and John Forsythe promoted to replace them.

Who is the new vice president of Refrigerated Foods at Hormel Foods?

Clint Walters has been promoted to vice president of Refrigerated Foods operations.

What is significant about Kari Pollak's promotion at Hormel Foods?

Kari Pollak's promotion makes her the first woman to serve as plant manager at Hormel Foods' Austin facility.

When are the retirements of the Hormel Foods executives effective?

The retirements of Donnie Temperley and Tim Fritz will be effective in spring 2021.

How might the leadership transitions affect Hormel Foods?

The leadership transitions are expected to maintain operational excellence and ensure a smooth transition for the organization.