In a move to align the company’s risk management initiatives across all departments, Butterball has promoted Suzanne Griffin to senior vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer.
Griffin previously served as Butterball’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary since joining the company in 2012. She has a broad legal background in agriculture, industry and finance, providing legal advice to senior management and working closely with the business lines on business and commercial issues.
In her new role, Griffin will assume direct responsibility for environmental and workplace safety management as well as providing oversight for other risk related issues. Lankford Ruffin, corporate environmental manager, and Brian Rodgers, senior director of workplace safety and risk management, will now report directly to Suzanne.
“Suzanne has done an excellent job providing consultative support in various areas of risk management, and given the complexity of our business, we feel there is a need to centralize these activities under one umbrella,” said Butterball President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Jandrain. “She and her new team will work to align her functions with the company’s strategic priorities, focusing on improved processes. Our industry-leading workplace safety and environmental records will continue to be top priorities for our company and will only be enhanced under Suzanne’s leadership.”
Prior to joining Butterball, Griffin’s legal career included senior legal positions with Continental Grain Company and RBC Bank as well as law firm experience. Griffin has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, College of Agriculture and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Butterball is the largest turkey company in the United States. Its products are currently distributed throughout the U.S. and in more than 45 countries. Butterball, which is headquartered in Garner, North Carolina, operates six processing plants located in North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri.
