Hormel Foods Corp. is promoting John Ghingo to the role of president, becoming the 11th person to hold the position in the company's nearly 135-year history. Jeffrey M. Ettinger, current member of the Hormel Foods board, will return to the company for a defined period of 15 months as interim chief executive officer. Ettinger and Ghingo will assume their leadership roles on July 14. On that day, Ghingo will also join the Hormel Foods board of directors.

In his current role as EVP for retail, Ghingo leads the company's largest business unit and oversees its portfolio of consumer brands. He brings perspective from both inside and outside the company, with 15 years of various leadership roles at Mondelēz International, as well as previously serving as president of Applegate Farms, a Hormel Foods subsidiary. Ghingo has extensive experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry. In his role as president, he will directly oversee the company's retail, foodservice, and international business segments. He will also lead the company's global operations, supply chain, research and development, and corporate strategy functions.

Ghingo graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned his Master of Business Administration from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

"It's an incredible honor to be named the 11th president of Hormel Foods and I'm grateful to the board for their trust and confidence," Ghingo says. "I returned to the company last year because the history, people, culture and portfolio of iconic brands truly set us apart in the industry. I'm excited to build on that foundation and help shape what's next. Transform & Modernize remains a critical part of our strategy, and I'm committed to keeping that momentum going—it continues to be a top priority for our organization. I'm also looking forward to 15 months of partnership with Jeff, who knows this company so well. I want to thank Jim Snee for his outstanding leadership as well as his vision, values and commitment, which have left a strong mark on our people, culture and the communities we serve."

Ettinger had a nearly three-decade long career with the company, including serving as its ninth president and then being elevated to serve as its chief executive officer. During his tenure, Ettinger earned a reputation for driving performance and results. With his deep knowledge of the company and its culture, and his experience with the company's external stakeholders, he will be a strong partner to Ghingo. During this time, the company's corporate functions including finance, legal and external affairs, human resources, corporate communications, and ethics and compliance will report to Ettinger.

"Serving the company in this interim role is a privilege and honor," Ettinger says. "What has always set Hormel Foods apart is its people—their integrity, passion, and pride in the work they do. I'm excited to support John and our talented team to expand our impact in new and meaningful ways."

Bill Newlands, chairman of the Hormel Foods board of directors, says, "After a thorough and deliberate search, the board is thrilled to elevate John to the role of president of Hormel Foods and elect him to the board of directors. We are also very thankful to Jeff for his willingness to return as interim CEO for the next 15 months.

"We are confident that Jeff's valuable experience with the public markets and investment community, as well as his deep understanding of our culture, will complement John's expertise with consumer-relevant innovation, brand building, and strategy in today's dynamic food industry. The board has full confidence in John and Jeff's ability to strengthen our business, deepen our relevance with consumers, and deliver lasting value for our shareholders."

Newlands continues, "On behalf of the board, we sincerely thank Jim Snee for his steadfast leadership and 36 years of service to the company and its team members, shareholders and communities. We are grateful for his many contributions over a remarkable career."

The Hormel Foods CEO search committee will now be dissolved, with the board planning to install the permanent chief executive officer in October 2026.

Ettinger, a member of the Hormel Foods board of directors, is currently chairman of the board for The Hormel Foundation, one of Minnesota's largest community foundations and grant makers. In this role, he oversees the distribution of millions of dollars in charitable donations to organizations in and around Austin, MN, enhancing the quality of life in the community. Upon his transition to interim chief executive officer of Hormel Foods, he will step down as chairman of The Hormel Foundation and continue serving as a board member. Ettinger previously served as the interim president of the University of Minnesota from 2023-2024. Prior to that, he was president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods from 2005 to 2016. He became the company's chief executive officer after serving in roles including corporate attorney, treasurer, and president of Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc.

Ettinger is also an experienced independent public company director, previously serving on the boards of The Toro Company and Ecolab Inc., including serving as Ecolab's lead director for nearly six years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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