Tom Hayes, former president and CEO of Tyson Foods has been chosen to be the president and CEO of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
Hayes was unanimously elected to serve in those capacities by the board of directors of Ocean Spray, a cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry growers in the United States, Canada and Chile.
"Ocean Spray is a unique company – one that asks its leaders to speak the language of consumers, farmers, grocers, bankers, manufacturers and employees all at once. In Tom Hayes, we believe we have found a leader who can speak to all of these audiences and continue the transformation of this cooperative," Peter Dhillon, chairman of the Ocean Spray board of directors, said in a press release.
"Tom's expertise in supply chain management, his understanding of agriculture and the challenges faced by growers, and his decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry make him ideally suited to lead Ocean Spray into its second century. We are thrilled to welcome Tom on board."
Hayes, a native of New Hampshire, came to Tyson Foods in 2014 with the company’s acquisition of Hillshire Brands. He was Hillshire’s chief supply chain officer at the time of the acquisition, and moved into the role of president of food service with Tyson Foods.
In June 2016, Hayes was named president of Tyson Foods, and at the conclusion of 2016, he added CEO to his leadership roles. Hayes succeeded Donnie Smith, who retired, in both roles. Hayes served in that capacity until September 30, 2017. He cited “personal reasons,” for resigning. Tyson Foods, in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealed that the company offered Hayes a severance package valued at approximately $6.35 million.
During Hayes’ tenure with Tyson Foods, the company divested of non-protein subsidiaries, acquired Tecumseh Poultry and reached an agreement to acquire Keystone Foods.
Hayes was succeeded by Noel White, who will serve as CEO of the company until October, when Dean Banks will assume the role.
Hayes, in a press release, expressed his excitement to lead Ocean Spray.
"For everyone who grew up in New England, the Ocean Spray name is not just a global brand – it's part of our culture. The heritage of the company and its 700 farmer owners is one to be celebrated and shared across the world, and I want to ensure it is protected and positioned to grow for a long time to come," said Hayes. "Joining Ocean Spray at such a pivotal moment, as it approaches its centennial, presents an extraordinary opportunity to look toward the future, tackle new challenges, and ensure that this cooperative will succeed for another hundred years."
Hayes earned a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Northwestern University. Prior to leading Tyson, Hayes also held significant leadership roles at U.S. Foods, ConAgra, and Kraft. Most recently, Hayes served as a partner at Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p), a private equity firm that invests in middle market companies in the food industry.
With Hayes’ appointment as CEO of Ocean Spray, he becomes the second former Tyson Foods executive to become CEO of a major food and beverage company in recent months. Sally Grimes, former group president of the Tyson Foods Prepared Foods segment, was named CEO of Clif Bar & Company, effective June 1.
