Leadership

Mark Hall was named chief financial officer in January 2023, leading the company’s finance, accounting, treasury, tax, mergers and acquisitions, information technology and risk management functions. Mark previously served as Smithfield's executive vice president, finance, overseeing financial planning and analysis, operations and logistics finance, trade spend, data analytics and project and capital management supporting the U.S. business. He joined Smithfield in 2014 as vice president, finance, for the company’s John Morrell Food Group.  

Doug Sutton, Ph.D., is Smithfield's chief manufacturing officer. In this role, he oversees 43 U.S. manufacturing facilities in 28 states. Since joining Smithfield in 2001, Doug has focused on research, advancing studies in non-meat ingredients to determine their role in product quality and yields, and in formulations and processing techniques to deliver quality and performance to exceed consumer expectations. He has also served on university academic advisory boards and graduate research committees and is actively involved in extension work with 4-H and FFA.

Keller Watts is chief business officer for Smithfield Foods, leading fresh and packaged business management and supply planning. His teams help to manage the financials of Smithfield's $18 billion product portfolio, which includes iconic brands such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®. Keller ensures that the businesses work together to optimize our vertically integrated business model. Throughout his nearly 30-year career with Smithfield, Keller has held roles in supply planning, strategic sourcing, marketing, sales, and research and development. He has gained a reputation for maximizing operational excellence, consistently delivering financial performance and most importantly building strong teams.   

John Sargent serves as president of U.S. hog production for Smithfield Foods, overseeing and directing all Smithfield U.S. swine production operations. John joined Smithfield as vice president of production operations in 2007 when Smithfield acquired Premium Standard Farms. He has focused his 37-year career on production agriculture and brings an extensive background and experience in live animal operations. John has successfully led one of the largest production operations in the world with an analytical and calculated approach to hog production, a focus on implementing innovative problem-solving approaches and a straightforward communication style with employees and business partners.  

Steve France is a proven food industry leader with over 30 years of experience as president of our packaged meats business.  He has experience spanning manufacturing, business management, transportation and warehousing, sales and marketing and customer service. Steve has served in various management positions since he joined the company in 2002 as senior vice president and general manager of our deli business, most recently as executive vice president of sales. Steve is responsible for our packaged meats and value-added fresh business with accountability for revenue and profit goals across all trade channels.  He also oversees the innovation and direction of our iconic brands such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®. Steve began his career at ConAgra and spent several years in various management roles at Michael Foods.

Donovan Owens was named president, U.S. fresh pork, in June 2023. Prior to this role, he was executive director, support operations, for Smithfield Hog Production. He also led Smithfield’s Tar Heel, NC facility for 12 years, first as general manager/director of operations and then as the complex plant manager. Donovan joined Smithfield in 1993 and brings 30 years of experience in industrial engineering, fresh pork business management and fresh pork operations.

Tony Vojslavek joined Smithfield as chief risk officer in December 2022. He is responsible for leading Smithfield’s vertically integrated commodities risk management strategy and implementing improvements within our global hedging strategy from farm to fork. Tony has more than 15 years of experience in risk analysis, risk management and hedging strategy in agriculture, ingredient, fertilizer and energy markets. He began his career with ConAgra Foods and has held various risk management and leadership positions with Gavilon and Green Plains.  

Jay Bennett joined Smithfield Foods as chief human resources officer in March 2023 after nine years with Lockheed Martin Corporation where he was vice president of human resources for its Rotary Mission Systems Lines of Business. There, he led the human resources initiatives and program execution strategies of a $16 billion business area. Jay brings more than 32 years of experience across five industries in roles that include operations, sales and human resources through leadership positions at General Motors, Carrier Corporation, Rolls Royce and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Jay currently serves on the board of directors for the Connecticut Yankee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. 

Mike Flemming joined Smithfield Foods in 2005 and serves as chief legal officer. Early in his career, he served as a law clerk for Judge Albert V. Bryan, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  Prior to joining Smithfield, Mike was a partner in the law firm McGuireWoods, where he was a finance lawyer representing banks in debt transactions. He served as chair of the firm's associates committee and as managing partner of its Tysons Corner, Virginia, office. From 2016-2023, he served on the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University, including three years as chair of the finance committee. 

Tennille Checkovich was named General Counsel for Smithfield Foods in 2023. She is responsible for managing all litigation involving the company, overseeing risk mitigation efforts related to regulatory and compliance issues and assisting the chief legal officer with managing the legal team. Since joining Smithfield in 2020, she has served as the company’s deputy general counsel for litigation. Prior to that, Tennille was an equity partner at McGuireWoods LLP in its business and securities litigation department. She previously served as an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, handling securities litigation and white-collar defense issues for public companies. 
 

Laura Walsh was named chief information officer for Smithfield Foods in April 2021. In this role, she leads Smithfield's strategy to drive technology solutions that focus on animal care and sustainability, heighten data intelligence and drive automation and productivity. With over 19 years of global IT experience, more than nine of those as a chief information officer, Laura has led technology transformations at five organizations spanning manufacturing, mining, technology, food production, animal care and retail.  

Randy Haines returned to Smithfield Foods in 2021 and serves as our chief procurement officer and senior vice president of supply chain responsible for procurement, distribution and transportation. Prior to rejoining Smithfield, Randy started and managed a successful boutique procurement consulting firm focused on reducing costs for large manufacturers, primarily in the food and beverage sector, on their packaging and ingredient spend. During his first tenure at Smithfield, he was instrumental in centralizing the strategic sourcing function with growing responsibility over those six years. Randy has more than 15 years of experience in procurement and supply chain. 

Joe Weber serves as chief business development officer, overseeing Smithfield’s Latin America operations in Mexico. He previously served as executive vice president, growth, where he was responsible for identifying strategic growth opportunities and managing all merger and acquisition activity. Joe serves on multiple industry committees and boards, including the Virginia Pork Board, the American Meat Institute's USDA Mandatory Pricing Committee, the National Pork Board's Long-Term Strategic Planning Committee, the National Pork Producers Council's Packer Industry Committee and the Food Marketing Institute's Fresh Meat Committee. 

Stewart Leeth is chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. He leads the company's global sustainability strategies, as well as its environmental and regulatory compliance programs. Stewart joined Smithfield’s legal department in 2008 and served in various legal, regulatory and government affairs roles with the company before being appointed to his current position in 2016. In April 2023, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed Leeth to a three-year term on the National Pork Board following his election by industry delegates from across the country. Prior to joining Smithfield, he was a partner at a global law firm.  He previously served as Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia and began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Claude M. Hilton, presiding in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In addition to his work at Smithfield, Stewart is the author of the public utilities chapter of the Handbook of Virginia Local Government Law. 

Steve Evans serves as vice president, community development for Smithfield Foods. In this role, Steve is responsible for developing and promoting the company’s strategic vision around supporting communities and sustainability strategies furthering the humane treatment of animals, environmental stewardship, food safety and quality, health and wellness, creating a rewarding, safe and inclusive work environment and supporting the vitality of the company’s communities. Steve serves on the National FFA advisory board, the NC Business Committee for Education board, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science advisory board for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University and the statewide education and workforce development board, MyFutureNC. 

Jim Monroe joined Smithfield Foods as vice president, corporate affairs in September 2021, leading the company's government affairs and corporate communications functions. Jim previously served as assistant vice president, corporate communications for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a public policy advocacy organization representing the U.S. pork industry. In this role, he was responsible for NPPC’s communications strategy, planning and execution, including campaigns designed to advance the council's public policy objectives. Previously, Jim led corporate marketing and communications at JDSU (now Viavi Solutions), MCI and NorthPoint Communications.