Tyson Foods hires Jeff Schomburger as CEO

The executive takes over for Donnie King, who has been with the meat and chicken processor for 43 years, including the last five as CEO.

What happened

Tyson Foods said Jeff Schomburger will take the helm as president and CEO starting Oct. 4, following a transition period that begins in July. He replaces Donnie King, who has been with Tyson for 43 years, including the last five as CEO. King will remain on Tyson’s board.

The meat and chicken processor said Schomburger has been a member of its board since 2016, providing him with a deep understanding of the company’s operations and strategy.

Why it matters

Tyson’s CEO transition comes as the company reports strength in its chicken operations but declines in its beef business connected to high cattle prices. Earlier this month, Tyson reported a loss of $240 million in its beef operations.

In hiring Schomburger, Tyson brings an executive with deep knowledge of the company’s business and extensive experience in the consumer packaged goods space. He’s intimately familiar with Tyson and the challenges facing the meat and chicken business today due to his extensive time on the board.

Schomburger also previously held multiple senior leadership positions throughout his 35-year tenure at Procter & Gamble before retiring in 2019. He likely amassed a deep understanding of consumer buying habits while working at the manufacturer of popular items such as Tide laundry detergent andCrest toothpaste.

This news brief is based on reporting published by Food Dive on 2026-05-28. The original report is linked below.