PHOENIX, Ariz. – Warren Panico was elected to serve as president and CEO of Bar-S effective Jan. 1, 2013, the company announced Dec. 5.

The company's board of directors elected Panico to succeed former CEO Tim Day, who will remain with the company as chairman of the board. Day has been with Bar-S since the company was founded in 1981.

Panico will be responsible for the daily operations of the company and its seven brands. He has extensive experience as a senior executive at Bar-S Foods for the last 15 years and more than 35 years in the meat industry. Before his promotion, Panico was responsible for managing the company's operations and distribution functions, and more recently, for overseeing sales and marketing activities for Bar-S Foods.

“Warren’s appointment is an important step to ensure that our organization is properly structured for the future with sound leadership in place,” said Mario Paez, president and CEO, Sigma Alimentos. Sigma Alimentos and Bar-S Foods merged in 2010 to form the largest processed meat company by volume in North America, according to the company.

Panico holds a B.A. from San Francisco State Univ. and a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Pacific Univ.