Jeffrey M. Ettinger

Jeff Ettinger is interim chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. The company’s corporate functions including finance, legal and external affairs, human resources, corporate communications, and ethics and compliance report to him.

Hormel Foods is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include PLANTERS^®, SKIPPY^®, SPAM^®, HORMEL^® NATURAL CHOICE^®, APPLEGATE^®, JUSTIN’S^®, COLUMBUS^®, WHOLLY^® guacamole, HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World’s Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts.

Ettinger joined Hormel Foods in 1989 and held numerous leadership roles including corporate attorney, treasurer, and president of Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. He became president of Hormel Foods in 2004 and was appointed chief executive officer in 2006. From 2006 through 2015, Ettinger served as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. Ettinger remained chairman and chief executive officer until his retirement in 2016. He was appointed to his current role as interim chief executive officer in July 2025.

Ettinger previously served as the interim president of the University of Minnesota from 2023 to 2024 and previously chaired the board for The Hormel Foundation, one of Minnesota’s largest community foundations and grant makers. He continues to serve on the Foundation’s board and is an experienced independent public company director, having served on the boards of The Toro Company and Ecolab Inc., including nearly six years as Ecolab’s lead director.

Ettinger is a native of Pasadena, Calif., and holds a bachelor of arts degree and juris doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles.