Smithfield Foods has announced that Shane Smith is now the president and CEO of the company, succeeding Dennis Organ, who stepped down for personal reasons. Based at the global food company’s headquarters in Smithfield, Va., Smith will be guiding its vision and strategic direction across operations in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico.
Most recently, Smith most served as the company’s chief strategy officer, where he helped develop, execute, and sustain the company’s efforts to achieve growth through its own resources, as well as through mergers and acquisitions. In that role, Smith was also responsible for Smithfield Renewables, the platform that unifies its carbon reduction initiatives.
Smith previously served as executive vice president of Smithfield’s European operations. In this capacity, he spent much of the last decade in Europe, overseeing the company’s operations, capital investments, expansion into new markets, and mergers and acquisitions abroad. His extensive experience with both Smithfield’s European and U.S. businesses will aid the company in further establishing more robust and strategic global collaboration to franchise best practices across the company’s expansive footprint.
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“I am honored to serve as Smithfield’s next president and CEO and lead an incredible team of more than 63,000 people who all work together to provide families worldwide with wholesome, safe, and affordable food. At Smithfield, ‘Good food. Responsibly.’ is more than something we say. It’s how we approach our work and what we carry out through our mission to produce good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities, and planet,” says Smith “Together with our talented leadership team, I look forward to furthering our long-term vision that has made us one of the world’s leading consumer packaged protein companies, creating value for a broad range of stakeholders.”
Smith was initially hired as a financial analyst by Smithfield in 2003. He was promoted to director of financial reporting in 2008 and then to international controller for Smithfield’s international business in 2010. In this role, Smith managed Smithfield’s financial operations in Poland, Romania, the U.K., Mexico, and Spain.
