Hormel Foods Announces Executive Promotions
Jul 26, 2007
AUSTIN, Minn. —Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today
announced changes in the structure and leadership of its protein
businesses, effective immediately.
Gary Ray, executive vice president of refrigerated
products, has been named president, protein businesses. The position
will oversee all of Hormel Foods’ protein businesses, including Hormel
Foods refrigerated products, Jennie-O Turkey Store and Farmer
John.
“This is an ideal opportunity to capitalize on
Gary’s unparalleled knowledge and experience in the protein business,”
said Jeffrey Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief
executive officer.
“We are confident that this new structure will
provide greater focus, fresh perspective and enhanced coordination
across the company’s diverse protein businesses,” Ettinger
said.
In addition to Ray’s advancement, the company
announced that Steven G. Binder, group vice president of foodservice,
was named group vice president of Hormel Foods refrigerated products.
In his new position, he will assume broader responsibilities for the
company’s refrigerated products operations, including meat products,
foodservice, fresh pork, Saag’s and Dan’s Prize. Thomas R. Day, vice
president of foodservice, was named senior vice president of
foodservice, and will be responsible for all Hormel Foods foodservice
sales and marketing functions. Deanna T. Brady, foodservice regional
sales manager—west, was named vice president of foodservice sales. She
will oversee all of Hormel Foods’ foodservice sales force, and report
to Day.
Ray began his career with Hormel Foods in 1968 in
Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he progressed through several supervisory
positions within the grocery products and meat products areas. In 1980,
Ray relocated to Austin, Minn., as production manager for the grocery
products division. He was promoted to director of production for the
grocery products division in 1985, and became responsible for the
manufacturing of all grocery product items.
In 1986, he advanced to director of manufacturing of
the operations group. After serving two years in that position, he was
promoted to vice president of manufacturing, and one year later, in
1989, was appointed senior vice president of the operations group. In
1990, Ray became group vice president of operations. He was named
executive vice president of operations in 1992 and appointed to his
current position in 1999.
Ray attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. He
serves on the board of directors for Hormel Foods, Farmer John, Precept
Foods, LLC, The Hormel Institute, Austin Medical Center and Community
Bank Austin.
Binder has devoted his 28 year career primarily to
the foodservice group. Starting as a foodservice sales representative
in Jacksonville, Fla., in July 1979, Binder served in various sales
positions until being named foodservice area manager in Cincinnati,
Ohio, in October 1990. Three years later, he transferred to the
corporate offices in Austin as regional sales manager of the
southeastern region and corporate national accounts manager. In
December 1996, Binder was promoted to director of foodservice sales.
Two years later, he was elected vice president of foodservice. He was
named group vice president of foodservice in October 2000.
Binder graduated from Southwest State University,
Marshall, Minn., in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business
administration.
A 26 year employee, Day began with Hormel Foods in
January 1981 as a meat products sales representative in San Antonio,
Texas, and, in August 1984, became foodservice sales representative at
San Antonio. In April 1989, he was named foodservice national accounts
manager at the corporate offices and, in August 1992, was advanced to
foodservice regional sales manager of the southeastern and western
regions and corporate national accounts manager. He was named director
of foodservice sales in October 1998, and promoted to vice president of
foodservice sales in September 2000.
Day earned a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire in 1980, and a
Masters of Business Administration degree at the University of Texas in
San Antonio in 1988.
Brady began her career with Hormel Foods in
September 1996 as a foodservice territory manager in the Metro area,
and over the ensuing years, has held various foodservice sales
positions across the United States. In June 2003, Brady was promoted to
her current position as foodservice regional manager in Los Angeles,
Calif.
Brady is a graduate of California Polytechnic State
University in San Luis Obispo where she received a Bachelor of Science
degree in dietetics and food administration, and is also a registered
dietitian. She is a native of El Segundo, Calif.
About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is
a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and
meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in
the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise,
innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and
marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global
marketplace. For each of the past eight years, Hormel Foods has been
named one of “The Best Big Companies in America” by Forbes magazine.
The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers,
foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for
quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information,
visit www.hormelfoods.com.