SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. has announced Justin Whitmore as chief sustainability officer, a newly created role, following Tyson’s recent introduction of a new strategy placing sustainability as a top priority of the company now and into the future. Whitmore will begin service in the new position effective May 1.
Whitmore was most recently a consultant at McKinsey & Company where he launched the firm's complexity management service line, led the McKinsey Black Network efforts in the Midwest region, and advised leading companies on strategy, operations and sustainability. He will report directly to President and CEO Tom Hayes as part of the company’s enterprise leadership team.
Whitmore’s duties will include leadership and direction to achieve Tyson’s strategy of sustainably feeding the world, implementation of solutions that impact all dimensions of sustainability, leading the company to strive for innovation and delivering healthier food, healthier animals, a healthier environment and a healthier workplace.
Also, Whitmore will focus on financial fitness and productivity. He will collaborate across the organization in the interest of efficiency and savings that can be reinvested to fuel growth.
“I am pleased to welcome Justin to the Tyson Foods family,” Hayes said in a statement. “We created this new role as part of our commitment to invest in our future through sustainability initiatives while funding them in the present through a best-in-class approach to continuous improvement.
“Justin brings considerable operations experience to Tyson as well as an approach that breaks down barriers and unlocks the potential of teams,” he said. “We believe he will not only drive change at Tyson, but across our industry as he partners with the many important stakeholders in our supply chain and food system.”
“I’m honored by Tyson Foods’ confidence in me to serve as its first Chief Sustainability Officer,” Whitmore said. “This is a company I know and respect. I’m excited to contribute to its strong legacy of leadership as we take on the challenge of global food sustainability. I look forward to working closely with Tom and the entire Tyson team to continue to innovate and live out our purpose.”
Whitmore holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBA from the Notre Dame. He serves on the Corporate Advisory Board at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
