Hormel Foods names John Ghingo as CEO, effective Oct. 26

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) announced its board of directors has appointed John Ghingo as president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 26, 2026. Ghingo will succeed Jeff Ettinger, who has served as interim CEO.

Ghingo has served as president of Hormel Foods and as a member of its board of directors since July 2025. He will continue serving on the board following his appointment as CEO. In his current role, he oversees the company's Retail, Foodservice and International business segments, as well as global operations, supply chain, research and development, information technology and corporate strategy.

Ghingo rejoined Hormel Foods in 2024 as executive vice president of the Retail business unit before being named president in July 2025. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry. Prior roles include president of Applegate Farms, a Hormel Foods subsidiary, from 2018 to 2022; president of plant-based foods and beverages at WhiteWave Foods; and more than 15 years at Mondelēz International. He holds a degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Board chairman Bill Newlands said in a statement that Ghingo "has quickly demonstrated his ability to lead at enterprise scale, setting clear strategic direction and translating strategy into disciplined execution."

Ettinger will remain as interim CEO through Oct. 25, 2026, to support the transition, after which he will continue serving on the Hormel Foods board. Ettinger first joined the company in 1989 and previously served as chairman, president and CEO before retiring in 2016. He returned to serve as interim CEO during the leadership search.

Hormel Foods, based in Austin, Minnesota, reported over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its portfolio includes brands such as Spam, Skippy, Planters, Applegate and Jennie-O.

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