Tyson Foods is again shaking up its c-suite with Brady Stewart terminated immediately for cause, the company announced Sept. 2. Tyson provided no details other than saying Stewart violated the company’s code of ethics.
Stewart was group president of Tyson’s prepared foods, beef and pork segments and the chief supply chain officer since joining the company from Smithfield Foods in January 2023.
With his departure, the supply chain, food safety, health and safety, environmental and transportation functions will report directly to CEO Donnie King, the release states.
This is the second ethics violation discharge of a top Tyson executive in roughly a year. Former Chief Financial Officer John R. Tyson was removed from that role in August 2024 following a drunk driving arrest, his second transgression in 16 months. John R Tyson, great-grandson of the company founder, worked as a senior advisor until being appointed as a company director in May.
Tyson also announced the promotion of Devin Cole as its chief operating officer, a role that had been vacant since King was promoted to CEO on June 2, 2021. Cole will report directly to King and oversee the company’s business segments, including poultry, beef, pork, prepared foods and international.
Most recently, Cole served as group president of Tyson’s poultry and international businesses, where he delivered three consecutive quarters of volume growth in poultry and improved the profitability of the international business by driving efficiencies and cost controls.
Tyson said the company will share further leadership and organizational updates prior to Sept. 28, the start of its 2026 fiscal year. Analysts who follow the company expect Tyson to report annual revenue of $54.65 billion, up 2.51% year over year. Earnings for the fourth quarter are expected to be lower amid ongoing challenges in the beef segment.
Tyson recently adjusted its beef processing production, which was down about 16% since the start of the year. In the quarter ending June 28, Tyson said it faced a “noticeably tighter” cattle supply than a year ago, while consumer demand remained resilient. To maximize its beef supply, Tyson reduced line speeds, a strategy the company is likely to continue, according to King.
Wall Street expects full-year earnings per share of $3.82, compared to $3.10 earned in fiscal 2024. The company will report its year-end results by mid-October.
Shares of Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) closed Wednesday at $56.35, down 19 cents. The stock has traded between $51.85 and $66.88 over the past 52 weeks, and is down almost 13% in the past year.