Leadership
Leading with Vision and Experience
We are guided and supported by one of the most experienced management teams in the business. Their long-term vision and overarching goals have made us one of the world’s leading consumer packaged meats companies, creating value for a broad range of stakeholders.
Shane SmithPresident and Chief Executive Officer
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Shane Smith was named president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods in 2021. Based at the company’s headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia, he guides Smithfield’s vision and strategic direction across all operations in the United States and Mexico. Smith has held a variety of leadership roles across the company’s U.S. and international operations since joining Smithfield in 2003, most recently serving as chief strategy officer leading the company’s growth initiatives.
Mark HallChief Financial Officer
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Mark Hall was named chief financial officer in January 2023, leading the company’s finance, accounting, treasury, tax, mergers and acquisitions, information technology and risk management functions. Hall previously served as Smithfield's executive vice president, finance, overseeing financial planning and analysis, operations and logistics finance, trade spend, data analytics and project and capital management supporting the U.S. business. He joined Smithfield in 2014 as vice president, finance, for the company’s John Morrell Food Group.
Doug SuttonChief Manufacturing Officer
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Doug Sutton, Ph.D., is Smithfield's chief manufacturing officer. In this role, he oversees 43 U.S. manufacturing facilities in 27 states. Since joining Smithfield in 2001, Sutton has focused on research, advancing studies in non-meat ingredients to determine their role in product quality and yields, and in formulations and processing techniques to deliver quality and performance to exceed consumer expectations. He has also served on university academic advisory boards and graduate research committees and is actively involved in extension work with 4-H and FFA.
Keller WattsChief Business Officer
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Keller Watts is chief business officer for Smithfield Foods, focused on the overall execution of our strategy across the enterprise. Throughout his 30-year career with Smithfield, Watts has held roles in supply planning, strategic sourcing, marketing, sales, R&D and revenue management. He has gained a reputation for maximizing operational excellence, consistently delivering financial performance and building strong teams.
Kraig WesterbeekPresident, Smithfield Hog Production
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Kraig Westerbeek is president, Smithfield hog production, overseeing all Smithfield U.S. swine production operations. Westerbeek joined Smithfield in 1993 and has held leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including technical specialist; land nutrient manager; assistant vice president, environment, health and safety compliance; and vice president, operations, Smithfield hog production. He played a leading role in the formation of Smithfield Renewables in 2017 and has been instrumental in expanding the company’s manure-to-energy investments. Westerbeek is a past member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Pork Council and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and is a current member of NPPC’s environmental committee, which he previously chaired.
Steve FrancePresident, Packaged Meats
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Steve France is a proven food industry leader with over 30 years of experience as president of our packaged meats business. He has experience spanning manufacturing, business management, transportation and warehousing, sales and marketing and customer service. France has served in various management positions since he joined the company in 2002 as senior vice president and general manager of our deli business, most recently as executive vice president of sales. France is responsible for our packaged meats and value-added fresh business with accountability for revenue and profit goals across all trade channels. He also oversees the innovation and direction of our iconic brands such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®. He began his career at ConAgra and spent several years in various management roles at Michael Foods.
Donovan OwensPresident, U.S. Fresh Pork
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Donovan Owens was named president, U.S. fresh pork, in June 2023. Prior to this role, he was executive director, support operations, for Smithfield Hog Production. He also led Smithfield’s Tar Heel, NC facility for 12 years, first as general manager/director of operations and then as the complex plant manager. Owens joined Smithfield in 1993 and brings 30 years of experience in industrial engineering, fresh pork business management and fresh pork operations.
Shane HorselyChief Commodity Officer
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Shane Horsley was named chief commodity officer in June 2024, leading Smithfield’s commodity risk management and global hedging strategies. He joined Smithfield in 2002 and previously led our hog and grain procurement operations.
Jay BennettChief Human Resources Officer
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Jay Bennett joined Smithfield Foods as chief human resources officer in March 2023 after nine years with Lockheed Martin Corporation where he was vice president of human resources for its Rotary Mission Systems Lines of Business. There, he led the human resources initiatives and program execution strategies of a $16 billion business area. Bennett brings more than 32 years of experience across five industries in roles that include operations, sales and human resources through leadership positions at General Motors, Carrier Corporation, Rolls Royce and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Jay currently serves on the board of directors for the Connecticut Yankee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Michael FlemmingChief Legal Officer
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Mike Flemming joined Smithfield Foods in 2005 and serves as chief legal officer. Early in his career, he served as a law clerk for Judge Albert V. Bryan, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Prior to joining Smithfield, Flemming was a partner in the law firm McGuireWoods, where he was a finance lawyer representing banks in debt transactions. He served as chair of the firm's associates committee and as managing partner of its Tysons Corner, Virginia, office. From 2016-2023, he served on the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University, including three years as chair of the finance committee.
Tennille CheckovichGeneral Counsel
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Tennille Checkovich was named General Counsel for Smithfield Foods in 2023. She is responsible for managing all litigation involving the company, overseeing risk mitigation efforts related to regulatory and compliance issues and assisting the chief legal officer with managing the legal team. Since joining Smithfield in 2020, she has served as the company’s deputy general counsel for litigation. Prior to that, Checkovich was an equity partner at McGuireWoods LLP in its business and securities litigation department. She previously served as an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, handling securities litigation and white-collar defense issues for public companies.
Allyson BouldonChief Ethics and Compliance Officer
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As Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Allyson Bouldon leads and manages Smithfield’s ethics and compliance program, sustaining a culture of integrity and ethical decision-making across the company. Bouldon brings extensive experience in global regulatory and legal compliance in the agricultural, consumer products, food manufacturing, packaging and retail sectors. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College. She has been a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 2009.
Randy HainesChief Procurement Officer
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Randy Haines returned to Smithfield Foods in 2021 and serves as our chief procurement officer and senior vice president of supply chain responsible for procurement, distribution and transportation. Prior to rejoining Smithfield, Haines started and managed a successful boutique procurement consulting firm focused on reducing costs for large manufacturers, primarily in the food and beverage sector, on their packaging and ingredient spend. During his first tenure at Smithfield, he was instrumental in centralizing the strategic sourcing function with growing responsibility over those six years. Randy has more than 15 years of experience in procurement and supply chain.
Joe WeberPresident, Mexico Operations
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Joe Weber oversees Smithfield’s Latin America operations in Mexico. He previously served as executive vice president, growth, where he was responsible for identifying strategic growth opportunities and managing all merger and acquisition activity. Weber serves on multiple industry committees and boards, including the Virginia Pork Board, the American Meat Institute's USDA Mandatory Pricing Committee, the National Pork Board's Long-Term Strategic Planning Committee, the National Pork Producers Council's Packer Industry Committee and the Food Marketing Institute's Fresh Meat Committee.
Stewart LeethChief Sustainability Officer
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Stewart Leeth is chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. He leads the company's global sustainability strategies, as well as its environmental and regulatory compliance programs. Leeth joined Smithfield’s legal department in 2008 and served in various legal, regulatory and government affairs roles with the company before being appointed to his current position in 2016. In April 2023, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed Leeth to a three-year term on the National Pork Board following his election by industry delegates from across the country. Prior to joining Smithfield, he was a partner at a global law firm. He previously served as Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia and began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Claude M. Hilton, presiding in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In addition to his work at Smithfield, Stewart is the author of the public utilities chapter of the Handbook of Virginia Local Government Law.
Brendan SmithChief Marketing Officer
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Brendan Smith joined Smithfield Foods in January 2024 as chief marketing officer. He leads planning, development and execution of our marketing, advertising, innovation and strategic planning initiatives, with responsibility for our product brands across the retail, deli and foodservice channels. Smith brings more than 30 years of food and beverage industry experience, including four years leading marketing for our Smithfield, Farmland, Gwaltney and Cook’s brands.
Steve EvansVice President, Community Development
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Steve Evans serves as vice president, community development for Smithfield Foods. In this role, Evans is responsible for developing and promoting the company’s strategic vision around supporting communities and sustainability strategies furthering the humane treatment of animals, environmental stewardship, food safety and quality, health and wellness, creating a rewarding, safe and inclusive work environment and supporting the vitality of the company’s communities. Steve serves on the National FFA advisory board, the NC Business Committee for Education board, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science advisory board for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University and the statewide education and workforce development board, MyFutureNC.
Jim MonroeVice President, Corporate Affairs
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Jim Monroe joined Smithfield Foods as vice president, corporate affairs in September 2021, leading the company's government affairs and corporate communications functions. Monroe previously served as assistant vice president, corporate communications for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a public policy advocacy organization representing the U.S. pork industry. In this role, he was responsible for NPPC’s communications strategy, planning and execution, including campaigns designed to advance the council's public policy objectives. Previously, Monroe led corporate marketing and communications at JDSU (now Viavi Solutions), MCI and NorthPoint Communications.