Chicken giantPilgrim's Pride Corp., Pittsburg, Texas, said its board of directors namedDon Jacksonas the company's president and CEO, subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. The company said Jackson will assume the combined duties of President & CEO Clint Rivers and Chief Operating Officer Robert Wright, both of whom resigned Tuesday as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization process.
Pilgrim's Pride said Dr. Jackson has been president of Foster Farms' poultry division in Livingston, Calif., since 2000.  He previously served as executive vice president for foodservice at a former ConAgra Poultry Company business in Duluth, Ga. He also served for 22 years at Seaboard Farms, Athens, Ga., including four years as president & CEO of the company's poultry division. He received a bachelor of science degree from Arizona State University and his master's and Ph.D. degrees from Colorado State University.
Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, current chairman, will serve as interim president until Jackson's employment is approved.