Pilgrim’s Pride CEO to JBS; Case Exec Brought In

Dec. 20, 2010
William Lovette joins Pilgrim’s Pride, Don Jackson becomes CEO of JBS USA.

JBS SA, the Brazilian meat processor that now owns 67 percent of Pilgrim's Pride, hired the poultry firm’s CEO Don Jackson to become president and CEO of JBS USA, Greeley, Colo.

In turn, Pilgrim's Pride Corp. hired William Lovette, 50, as its president/CEO. He was president and COO of Case Foods Inc. (part of Case Farms), a Winesburg, Ohio-based poultry processor.

The two changes take effect Jan. 2 and 3. Lovette will report Jackson, who will continue to serve on Pilgrim's board of directors. Jackson will report to Wesley Batista, who was JBS USA’s CEO since the Brazilian parent acquired Swift & Co. in 2007 and who will remain chairman of both Pilgrim's Pride and JBS USA Holdings Inc.

Jackson was named president/CEO of Pilgrim's Pride in 2008 as the company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He guided the company through bankruptcy reorganization, which led to the JBS ownership position. He previously was president of the chicken and turkey operations at Foster Farms and prior to that was with ConAgra Poultry Co. and Seaboard Farms.

Lovette has more than 27 years of poultry industry experience. Before joining Case, he spent 25 years with Tyson Foods in various roles in senior management, including president of its international business unit, president of its foodservice business unit and senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods.

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