Wes Morris Returns to Tyson Foods to Become COO
Tyson Foods Inc. has announced another change in leadership, with Wes Morris being appointed as the company’s next chief operating officer (COO), effective June 15, 2026. Morris is taking the place of Devin Cole, who will retire from the company.
Morris brings more than 20 years of prior Tyson Foods experience, as well as more than 35 years of poultry industry experience, to the role. He joins Jeff Schomburger as the newest top leaders of the company, with Schomburger slated to take over as president and chief executive officer, as announced a little more than a week ago (May 28).
Morris retired from Tyson Foods as president, Prepared Foods Operations, after nearly two decades in various roles in 2017, but he returned in 2023 to become president of the Poultry business. He once again retired from Tyson earlier this year, having stayed aboard to help transition Cole into the COO role — Cole was promoted from president of Poultry and International to COO in September 2025 upon the departure of Brady Stewart from the company.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.