SMITHFIELD, Va. – Robert Manley, executive vice president of Smithfield Foods Inc., has added chief synergy officer to his job title, while Kenneth Sullivan was promoted to chief financial officer, the company announced Oct. 4.

Manley will help facilitate the company's acquisition by Hong Kong-based Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. The two companies closed their strategic merger in September. Manley will continue to oversee Murphy-Brown, Smithfield's hog production operations. Manley joined Smithfield as executive vice president in 1986, and he has held various executive positions within the company. He has been president of Smithfield Packing Company, Premium Standard Farms and Murphy-Brown. He became chief financial officer in 2008. Manly was the assistant to the president of IBP inc. from 1981 to 1986. Earlier in his career, Manley held various positions in the beef processing and cattle-feeding industries.


"Bo Manly has a unique mix of financial and operating experience, as well as a broad understanding of the protein industry," said C. Larry Pope, president and CEO. "He demonstrated exceptional leadership as chief financial officer, spearheading our financial restructuring, among many other accomplishments. Bo is the most qualified person in the organization to help harvest the maximum benefit from the combination of Smithfield and Shuanghui."

Kenneth Sullivan was senior vice president of finance and chief accounting officer at Smithfield. He joined the company in 2003 as vice president of internal audit. He became chief accounting officer in 2007, and later vice president of finance and chief accounting officer. Before joining Smithfield, Sullivan spent 12 years at large public accounting and consulting firms, serving a variety of clients in the manufacturing, technology and government contracting sectors.

"Ken will assume the chief financial officer reins from Bo. Ken is an integral part of our team and this promotion is well deserved based on the dedication and financial expertise he has demonstrated since joining Smithfield more than a decade ago. Ken also played a critical role in the recent Smithfield-Shuanghui transaction," Pope said. "He has exhibited strong leadership and financial management skills and brings a deep knowledge of our company to his new role."