SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods, Inc. announced that Sara Lilygren has been named executive vice president of Corporate Affairs.

In her new role, Lilygren will manage external affairs and lead the company’s charity programs, which focus on education and hunger relief.

Lilygren joined Tyson Foods in August 2002 as director of federal government relations and ran the company’s Washington, DC, office for seven years. Most recently, she served for three years as Tyson's senior vice president of External Relations.

Before joining Tyson, she was a lobbyist and public relations practitioner for various food industry groups for 22 years. She moved to Tyson Foods’ headquarters in 2009 to manage external relations, which includes public relations, community relations and corporate communications departments.

Lilygren serves on boards or advisory councils for the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Arkansas World Trade Center, the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and the Walton Arts Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the Univ. of Virginia.