John Ghingo Heir-Apparent at Hormel Foods, Although Jeff Ettinger Returns Temporarily
James Snee must be a difficult person to replace as CEO and president of Hormel Foods Corp. The company today (June 23) made two moves to fill his jobs, promoting EVP John Ghingo to president and Jeffrey Ettinger, former chairman and CEO, as interim chief executive officer for 15 months Both appointments are effective July 14.
It's pretty clear Ghingo is heir-apparent at the Austin, Minn., company.
Snee, a 36-year company veteran and chairman/CEO the past nine years (he stepped down as chairman Feb. 1), announced in January his intention to retire when the company’s fiscal year concludes at the end of October. Hormel has been searching for a successor, considering both internal and external candidates.
PHOTO AT TOP: John Ghingo left, Jeff Ettinger right.
Ettinger’s 15-month appointment will coincide with the end of another fiscal year (2026). Ettinger worked at Hormel nearly 30 years, was CEO 2005-2016 then served as chairman of the board until Snee’s election. Ettinger ran for Congress in 2022 and served as interim president of the University of Minnesota in 2023-2024, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
In his current role as executive vice president for retail, Ghingo leads the company’s largest business unit and oversees its portfolio of consumer brands. He has perspective from inside and outside the company, with 15 years of various leadership roles at Mondelez International, as well as previously serving as president of Applegate Farms LLC, a Hormel Foods subsidiary. He also was president of plant-based foods and beverages at WhiteWave and CEO of cheese-based chips company Whisps.
As president, Ghingo will more directly oversee the company’s retail, foodservice and international business segments. He will also lead the company’s global operations, supply chain, research and development, and corporate strategy functions.
“I returned to the company last year because the history, people, culture and portfolio of iconic brands truly set us apart in the industry,” said Ghingo. “I’m excited to build on that foundation and help shape what’s next. Transform & Modernize remains a critical part of our strategy, and I’m committed to keeping that momentum going —it continues to be a top priority for our organization.”
“John is the future,” Ettinger told the Star Tribune. “When a person becomes the president, you could argue it’s theirs to lose, but I would have every expectation that’s what would occur.”
Apparently the issue is settled, as the company also announced its CEO search committee has been dissolved, “with the board planning to install the permanent chief executive officer in October 2026.”
