THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505130287
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LON WAGNER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Joseph W. Luter III has relinquished part of his job as head of Smithfield Foods Inc. to John Nielson, former president and chief operating officer of John Morrell & Co., the company announced Friday.
Nielson, 64, will take over as president and chief operating officer of Smithfield, while Luter will remain chairman and chief executive officer. Nielson's appointment does not mean that Luter will be less involved in the business, Smithfield Vice President Aaron Trub said.
``Mr. Nielson will be taking care of the day-to-day operations,'' Trub said. ``Mr. Luter is chairman and CEO and intends to remain in that position from now until doomsday, as far as I'm concerned.''
Smithfield Foods, a leading hog producer and pork processor, had $1.4 billion in sales in the fiscal year ending May 1, 1994. Smithfield employs more than 3,500 people at its processing and meatpacking operations in Hampton Roads and has about 7,000 employees throughout the country.
Like Luter, Nielson grew up in a family meat-packing business. Nielson, a Denmark native, began his career with Canada Packers Ltd. in Toronto in 1952.
Nielson has been president and COO of Burns Foods Ltd. In 1978, while at Burns, he served a one-year term as president of the Meat Packers Council of Canada, similarto the American Meat Institute.
Luter said Smithfield wanted someone with Nielson's experience.
``We have built our company with a very lean management team that, for the most part, is still quite young,'' Luter said. ``I believe that as chief operating officer, he will be a steadying influence and experienced hand.''
Trub said the company's growth over the past few years prompted Luter to vacate the president's position and appoint a hands-on manager.
``The company has grown quite large,'' Trub said. ``We've got expanding operations in North Carolina, and essentially he felt we could use some help on a day-to-day basis.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Joseph W. Luter
by CNB