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Tyson Foods has named Jeff Schomburger as its new president and chief executive officer, effective from 4 October 2026.

Schomburger will succeed current CEO Donnie King, who steps down from the role after a 43-year career with Tyson Foods. He will remain on the board of directors, and will work closely with Schomburger to ensure a smooth leadership transition in the coming months.

Bringing extensive customer and consumer brand experience to the position, Schomburger has held multiple senior leadership roles throughout his 35-year tenure at CPG giant Procter & Gamble, retiring as its global sales officer in 2019. He has been a member of the Tyson Foods board of directors since 2016, enabling a strong understanding of the company’s operations and strategy.

During his decade on the board, Schomburger has served on multiple committees including Compensation, Audit, and Strategy and Acquisition, becoming chair of Strategy and Acquisition in 2021. He has served as lead independent director on the board since 2025, working closely with King to provide oversight and engage with leaders across the business.

King led Tyson Foods through the Covid-19 pandemic during his tenure, and is credited for improving execution across the business to substantially grow profit and strengthen its balance sheet. The company praised him for accelerating innovation and driving efficiency, including uniting all corporate staff at the company’s global headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, US.

Commenting on his appointment, Schomburger said: “I am honoured to step into this leadership role and committed to building on the exceptional foundation and legacy of Tyson Foods. I'm energised by the opportunity to strengthen our iconic brands with superior products, capitalise on emerging opportunities through AI acceleration and continue to win with customers and consumers.”