Hormel Foods appoints John Ghingo as president
John Ghingo takes over as president; former CEO Jeffrey Ettinger returns as interim chief executive
USA – Hormel Foods is restructuring its leadership as Jim Snee prepares to step down from his role as president and chief executive officer.
John Ghingo, who currently oversees the company’s Retail division, will be promoted to president, becoming the 11th individual to hold the position in Hormel’s 135-year history.
Simultaneously, Jeffrey M. Ettinger, who previously served as the company’s president and CEO, will return for a temporary term of 15 months as interim CEO.
These leadership changes are scheduled to take effect on July 14, at which time Ghingo will also join the company’s board of directors.
Snee, who has been with Hormel for 36 years, announced his retirement plans in January and will be officially stepping down this month.
According to Hormel’s board chairman Bill Newlands, the decision to promote Ghingo and bring back Ettinger was made after a detailed selection process.
Ghingo has been leading Hormel’s largest business unit and brings experience from both within the company and from past roles at Mondelēz International and Applegate Farms.
In his new role, he will oversee the Retail, Foodservice, and International segments, along with global operations, supply chain, R&D, and corporate strategy.
Ghingo said he is focused on continuing the company’s ongoing strategy, including the “Transform & Modernize” initiative, which remains a central part of Hormel’s plans.
Ettinger’s return is expected to support continuity during the transition, particularly in overseeing the company’s corporate functions such as finance, legal, human resources, and external affairs.
He originally joined Hormel in 1989 and rose through various roles before becoming president in 2004 and CEO in 2006, later retiring in 2016.
During his previous tenure, Ettinger also served as president of Jennie-O Turkey Store, the company’s largest subsidiary, and has remained involved with Hormel through board service.
In recent years, he has held other interim leadership roles, including a term as acting president of the University of Minnesota, and ran for public office in Minnesota.
Hormel’s board has indicated that a permanent CEO will be appointed in October 2026, and with Ettinger’s appointment, the company’s CEO search committee will be disbanded.
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