July 13, 2021

Smithfield Foods Inc. has a new CEO after its former one stepped down less than a year after taking the job.

Dennis Organ succeeded Ken Sullivan, who announced the transition in the fall of 2020 and retired at the beginning of the year.

Organ, who took over in late November 2020, is “stepping down for personal reasons,” according to a company statement.

Shane Smith, who has been with Smithfield for two decades, most recently as chief strategy officer, has been appointed as the new president and CEO.

Before becoming chief strategy officer, Smith served as executive vice president of Smithfield’s European operations. His “extensive experience with both Smithfield’s European and U.S. businesses will aid the company in further establishing more robust and strategic global collaboration to franchise best practices across the company’s expansive footprint,” Smithfield said in a statement.

Smithfield’s Sioux Falls plant is one of the largest pork-processing facilities in the country, representing 4 percent to 5 percent of U.S. pork production.

Smith, a native of North Carolina, began his Smithfield career as a financial analyst in 2003.

“I am honored to serve as Smithfield’s next president and CEO and lead an incredible team of more than 63,000 people who all work together to provide families worldwide with wholesome, safe and affordable food,” he said in a statement.

“At Smithfield, ‘Good food. Responsibly.’ is more than something we say. It’s how we approach our work and what we carry out through our mission to produce good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. Together with our talented leadership team, I look forward to furthering our long-term vision that has made us one of the world’s leading consumer packaged protein companies, creating value for a broad range of stakeholders.”