Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced that John Ghingo will be promoted to the role of president, becoming the 11^th person to hold the position in the company's nearly 135-year history. 

Jeffrey M. Ettinger, current member of the Hormel Foods board, will return to the company for a defined period of 15 months as interim chief executive officer. Ettinger and Ghingo will assume their leadership roles on July 14. On that day, Ghingo will also join the Hormel Foods board of directors.

In his current role as executive vice president for Retail, Ghingo leads the company's largest business unit and oversees its portfolio of iconic consumer brands. He brings valuable perspective from both inside and outside the company, with 15 years of various leadership roles at Mondelēz International, as well as previously serving as president of Applegate Farms, LLC, a Hormel Foods subsidiary. With extensive experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, Ghingo has a proven track record of driving growth and delivering results. In his role as president, he will directly oversee the company's Retail, Foodservice and International business segments. He will also lead the company's global operations, supply chain, research and development, and corporate strategy functions.

"It's an incredible honor to be named the 11^th president of Hormel Foods and I'm grateful to the board for their trust and confidence," Ghingo said. "I returned to the company last year because the history, people, culture and portfolio of iconic brands truly set us apart in the industry. I'm excited to build on that foundation and help shape what's next. Transform & Modernize remains a critical part of our strategy, and I'm committed to keeping that momentum going —it continues to be a top priority for our organization. I'm also looking forward to 15 months of partnership with Jeff, who knows this company so well. I want to thank Jim Snee for his outstanding leadership as well as his vision, values and commitment, which have left a strong mark on our people, culture and the communities we serve."

Ettinger had a nearly three-decade long career with the company, including serving as its 9^th president and then being elevated to serve as its chief executive officer. During his tenure, Ettinger earned a reputation for driving performance and results. With his deep knowledge of the company and its culture, and his experience with the company's external stakeholders, he will be a strong partner to Ghingo. During this time, the company's corporate functions including finance, legal and external affairs, human resources, corporate communications, and ethics and compliance will report to Ettinger.

"Serving the company in this interim role is a privilege and honor," Ettinger said. "What has always set Hormel Foods apart is its people – their integrity, passion and pride in the work they do. I'm excited to support John and our talented team to expand our impact in new and meaningful ways."

About Hormel Foods 
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, JUSTIN'S, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.— to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe.