Donnie King will be stepping into the role of president and chief executive officer for Tyson Foods.
King, who has served as chief operating officer, will begin his new roles immediately. Outgoing president and CEO Dean Banks is leaving both the company and the Tyson board for “personal reasons.”
“I’m humbled but excited about leading Tyson Foods, a company that feeds millions of people and means so much to me personally,” King said in a statement. “I believe we need to be sharply focused on operating with excellence, executing our strategies, and continuing to innovate across our businesses throughout the world. With our strong leadership team, we are committed to winning with our customers and delivering an outstanding team member experience.”
King has served as COO for a brief time, being named to the position in February 2021. In this role, he oversaw the group presidents of Tyson’s Fresh Meats, Prepared Foods and International divisions and the company’s chief customer officer.
He joined Tyson Foods in 1982, according to his corporate biography, holding multiple executive positions, including president of North American operations, and group president of international for the company.
King holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
This is also a relatively short tenure for Banks, who was appointed CEO for Tyson Foods in August 2020, succeeding Noel White. Banks has served as president of the company since December 2019.
“Being a part of Tyson Foods has been a very rewarding experience,” Banks said. “Upon deep personal reflection, and discussions with my family, the board, and my colleagues, I believe that stepping down and concentrating on my family is the right decision at this time.”
READ MORE: Donnie King Taking COO Role at Tyson Foods
