John Ghingo

As president of Hormel Foods, John Ghingo directly oversees the Retail, Foodservice and International business segments, and leads the company’s global operations, supply chain, research and development, and corporate strategy functions.

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.

Ghingo is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience in the consumer packaged goods industry and has a proven track record of driving growth and delivering results. Before joining Hormel Foods, Ghingo built a diverse career in the food and beverage industry, holding leadership positions across a range of iconic brands and companies. He spent more than 15 years at Mondelēz International in marketing and general management roles, supporting global brands including Oreo, Cadbury, Trident, and Planters, a brand now owned by Hormel Foods. He went on to serve as president of plant-based foods and beverages at The WhiteWave Foods Company, where he led the Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free brands. In 2018, Ghingo was named president of Applegate Farms, LLC, a Hormel Foods subsidiary, and served in that role through 2022. Following his tenure at Applegate, he was appointed chief executive officer of a better-for-you snacking company backed by private equity firm Kainos Capital. In 2024, Ghingo rejoined Hormel Foods as executive vice president of the Retail business unit before being named president of the company in July 2025.

Ghingo graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned his MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

He is a National Board Member for After School All Stars, the leading provider of after school, in-school services for children in need across the United States and the Chair of the Advisory Board for the New York University Stern School of Business Center for Sustainable Business.