PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Larry McWilliams, Keystone Foods chief operating officer, has been promoted to president and CEO succeeding Jerry Dean, who elected to retire after leading the company for 17 years.

Dean helped to build the business into one of the world’s largest and most respected food companies. During his tenure, Keystone Foods’ sales more than quadrupled, and the company has grown to be a global supply-chain partner. Keystone built or acquired more than 32 global facilities and now has operations at 55 locations throughout the world. Through this growth, 10,000 new jobs were created, bringing the number of Keystone Foods employees to more than 13,000 worldwide. Dean will continue to serve Keystone Foods in an advisory capacity.


Before joining Keystone Foods in April 2011, McWilliams was president of Campbell Soup Company’s international division. He has global experience in the food industry and has also worked for some of the world’s most well known consumer branded companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Pillsbury, General Foods and Del Monte.

McWilliams said he was attracted to Keystone Foods because of the company’s solid reputation within the global food industry, as well as its position within the Marfrig Group.

“I’m thrilled to have joined Keystone Foods at this exciting time,” he said. “Now part of the Marfrig Group, Keystone Foods is even better positioned to serve customers around the world. I look forward to putting my own experience to work for Marfrig and continuing to leverage Keystone Foods’ strengths to create greater opportunities.”