Tyson Foods has announced the appointment of Wes Morris as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective from June 15.
Morris will be responsible for overseeing all of the company's business segments, including chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods, and international operations. The current COO, Devin Cole, will retire on the same day.
Morris brings over two decades of experience at Tyson Foods, having most recently served as President for Prepared Foods and Poultry. He initially joined the company in 1999 and held various leadership roles, including Vice President of the Consumer Products Group and President of Prepared Foods Operations, before retiring in 2017. Following his retirement, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Simmons Foods from 2018 to 2019 and continued to provide advisory services to Tyson's poultry business as a consultant from 2020 to 2023.
The incoming President and CEO of Tyson Foods stated that Wes Morris has a proven track record of operational execution across the company's core businesses. His deep understanding of the company's operations will be crucial as Tyson continues its efforts to enhance overall performance.
Morris expressed his excitement about returning to the company at this pivotal moment, noting that a strong foundation is in place. He is committed to reinforcing operational discipline and driving the company's strategic priorities and growth plans forward.
This leadership change comes at a time of positive momentum for the company. According to its latest financial report, Tyson Foods reported total sales of $13.653 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, representing a 4.4% year-over-year increase. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.87, surpassing market expectations of $0.76. The company also raised its full-year adjusted operating profit guidance to a range of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion. The chicken segment performed particularly well, delivering an operating profit of $523 million with a margin improving to 12.2%.
Analysts noted that Morris's return coincides with a critical period for Tyson Foods as it continues to focus on improving operational efficiency and integrating its businesses. His extensive industry experience is expected to help the company further solidify its leading position in the competitive protein foods market. Tyson Foods, with a current market capitalization of approximately $20.7 billion, owns well-known brands such as Tyson, Jimmy Dean, and Hillshire Farm, and employs about 133,000 people globally.