As vice president of corporate communications for Hormel Foods Corporation, Wendy Watkins oversees public affairs and strategic communications for the company’s global operations. In this capacity, Watkins has overall responsibility for internal and external communications, the company’s digital presence, issues management, corporate social responsibility initiatives and the consumer response and engagement group. She serves as the company’s chief spokesperson and is responsible for Studio H — the company’s creative and culinary services group. She also serves as director of the Hormel Foods Charitable Trust and leads the company’s charitable giving efforts.
Watkins joined the company as vice president of corporate communications in 2015 with more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing and media relations. Prior to joining Hormel Foods, Watkins spent 15 years as global vice president of corporate communications for Delaware North Companies, a global leader in hospitality and foodservice. She joined Delaware North after more than a decade in global corporate communications leadership with the Marriott family of companies, which includes Host Marriott and Host Marriott Services.
Watkins has been active in foodservice, as well as travel and tourism industry. She was part of the initial launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s childhood obesity initiative and the Chefs Move to School program. She was also an advisor and staff representative to the Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and US Travel CEO Roundtable. Watkins served two terms on the New York State Health Research Science Board, appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Watkins is president of the board of directors for the Cancer Nutrition Consortium and has been recognized for her work in breast cancer advocacy, including being honored by Art beCAUSE, breast cancer research foundation, at its annual gala. She currently serves on its board of directors. She was named a Woman of Influence in 2011 by New York’s Business First. She is currently Chairperson of the Grocery Manufacturers Association Communications Committee.
Watkins received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has lived in Florida, the Washington, D.C., area and New York and currently lives with her family in Austin, Minn.
She and her husband, Larry, have two children.
Fast Facts
More Leadership Profiles
-
Clint WaltersVice President
Refrigerated Foods Operations -
Wendy WatkinsVice President
Corporate Communications -
NextDavid WeberVice President, Sales
Foodservice
-
Jim SneeChairman of the Board
President
Chief Executive Officer -
Jim SheehanExecutive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer -
Deanna BradyExecutive Vice President
Refrigerated Foods -
Glenn LeitchExecutive Vice President
Supply Chain -
Jeff BakerGroup Vice President
Deli -
Mark CoffeyGroup Vice President
Supply Chain -
PJ ConnorGroup Vice President
President, Consumer Products Sales -
Luis MarconiGroup Vice President
Grocery Products -
Swen NeufeldtGroup Vice President
President, Hormel Foods International -
Mark OuradaGroup Vice President
Foodservice -
Janet HoganSenior Vice President
Human Resources -
Pierre LillySenior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
-
Steve LykkenSenior Vice President
President, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. -
Lori MarcoSenior Vice President, External Affairs
General Counsel -
Kevin Myers, PhDSenior Vice President
Research and Development
and Quality Control -
Scott AakreVice President
Corporate Innovation and
New Product Development -
Richard CarlsonVice President
Quality Management -
John ForsytheVice President, Operations
Grocery Products -
Jeff FrankVice President
Grocery Products -
Tim FritzVice President, Operations
Grocery Products -
Jeff GrevVice President
Legislative Affairs -
Fred HalvinVice President
Corporate Development -
Jana HaynesVice President
Controller -
Tony HoffmanVice President
Senior Vice President, Sales
Consumer Product Sales -
Tyler HulsebusVice President
Engineering -
Gary JamisonVice President
Treasurer -
Brian JohnsonVice President
Corporate Secretary -
Leslie LeeVice President, Digital Experience
-
Mark MoreyVice President
Affiliated -
Pat SchwabVice President
Senior Vice President, Sales
Consumer Product Sales -
Lisa SelkVice President, Marketing
Meat Products -
Donnie TemperleyVice President, Operations
Refrigerated Foods -
Annemarie VaupelVice President
Foodservice Marketing -
Mark VaupelVice President
Information Technology Services -
Steve VenengaVice President, Marketing
Grocery Products -
Natosha WalshVice President
Senior Vice President, Sales
Consumer Products Sales -
Clint WaltersVice President
Refrigerated Foods Operations -
Wendy WatkinsVice President
Corporate Communications -
David WeberVice President, Sales
Foodservice -
Paul KuehnemanAssistant Controller
-
Eldon QuamAssistant Controller