Hormel Foods has appointed John Ghingo, its current president, as the new CEO of the U.S. food company, succeeding Jeff Ettinger.
Ettinger stepped into the interim role last year after Jim Snee’s retirement as president and CEO of the owner of Jennie-O turkey and Skippy peanut butter brands.
In this leadership transition, Ghingo has taken over the presidency from Snee.
The new CEO will officially take on his responsibilities starting October 26 and will continue as a member of the board. Ettinger will also retain his position on the board.
“I am honoured to lead Hormel Foods, a company with an extraordinary legacy, trusted brands and a clear purpose,” Ghingo stated in a press release today (July 28).
“We have real momentum and a talented team. I am energised to build on that foundation – investing in our brands, modernising how we operate and creating lasting value for our customers, consumers, team members and shareholders.”
During the announcement of second-quarter results in June, Ettinger maintained the forecast for 2026 sales revenue between $12.2 billion and $12.5 billion, despite facing challenges such as high fuel, logistics, and commodity costs.
He also managed the sale of Hormel Foods’ whole-bird turkey division to Life-Science Innovations, excluding the Jennie-O brand and its broader product line.
Subsequently, the interim CEO confirmed the divestiture of the company’s operations in Brazil to local food producer Zanchetta Alimentos, which includes the Ceratti brand.
Ettinger remarked, “Over the past year, John and I have worked closely together, and I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to Hormel Foods’ culture, people and portfolio and his clear focus on the opportunities ahead.
“I have great confidence in John’s ability to lead the company into its next chapter.”
Ghingo joined Hormel Foods in 2024, initially overseeing the retail division before expanding his responsibilities to include foodservice and international operations as president.
His professional journey features executive positions at leading U.S. companies such as Mondelez International and WhiteWave Foods, prior to its acquisition by the French dairy giant Danone in 2016. He also led Hormel Foods’ Applegate Farms subsidiary from 2018 until 2022.
Bill Newlands, chairman and board member of Hormel Foods, stated, “John has quickly demonstrated his ability to lead at enterprise scale, setting clear strategic direction and translating strategy into disciplined execution.
“Under his leadership, we believe Hormel Foods will be well positioned to drive our modernisation agenda, accelerate sustainable growth and create long-term value for shareholders.”
