The Right Guy for the Job

Joe Mellenbruch | July 30, 2025

Hormel Foods R&D ace Tony Muller is driving growth, innovation in China

Careers don’t always end with a bang. Oftentimes they taper gently into routine; a meeting here, a project update there. Tony Muller had come to accept that, even embrace it as his own decades-long career was beginning to wind down. So when the request came to meet with Kevin Myers, group vice president of Supply Chain at Hormel Foods, Muller paused — not alarmed, but suspicious that something was up.

The message came from Cindy Brady, Myers’ executive admin: “Do you have time to meet with Kevin in his office today?”

A senior R&D manager at Hormel Foods, Muller recalled, “I had no idea what to expect.”

What he walked into wasn’t just a check-in. It was the start of a conversation about a growing business halfway around the world, and a leadership gap that Hormel Foods needed to fill. In China, and in Asia more broadly, the company was entering a new phase: more products, more customers, more complexity. And with that came the need for seasoned technical leadership on the ground, someone who could stabilize the pace, help shape the strategy and guide a young team through it all.

“He just seemed like the right guy for the job.”
Kevin Myers, group vice president of Supply Chain at Hormel Foods

For Myers, Muller was the obvious choice, someone with both the experience and temperament to lead through transition. But Myers also knew that Muller was considering retirement, and that asking him to relocate to China — for two years, no less — was a big ask.

“It was a long shot, but with Tony, it was just something I felt I had to float,” Myers said. “He just seemed like the right guy for the job.”

The timing was complicated, but the fit felt right. Muller had the rare ability to balance technical depth with calm, credible leadership, exactly what Hormel Foods needed in China at that moment.

So the question was asked: “Would you consider it?”

Muller had been bracing for something off script, but this was miles from anything he had contemplated. “It kind of stopped me in my tracks,” he said.

“It was a big decision, no doubt about it. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt like the right thing to do.”
Tony Muller, senior R&D manager at Hormel Foods

Still, the idea lingered — not as a plan, but as a possibility. And over the next few weeks, through careful thought and honest conversations with loved ones, it became something more. It became a “yes.”

“It was a big decision, no doubt about it,” Muller said, “but the more I thought about it, the more it felt like the right thing to do.”

Today, Muller is more than 6,000 miles from the company’s global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota — embedded at the growing R&D facility in Jiaxing. The transition hasn’t always been easy for Muller, but his impact has been immediate, as he is already mentoring junior staff, bridging cultural gaps and working closely with business leaders to align innovation with the company’s long-term vision in the region.

“Tony is already doing exactly what we hoped he would do,” Myers said. “He’s bringing experience, trust and clarity, and our team in China is a lot better for it.”

The Price of Opportunity

Saying “yes” to the quest was just the beginning.

For Muller and his wife, Karla, the decision to relocate to China kicked off a months-long period of preparation — not only for the job, but for the life changes that came with it. There were loose ends to tie up, logistics to coordinate, and countless conversations about what the next two years might look like. From the beginning, it was a shared decision. Karla would also be joining her husband in China, just not right away. Tony departed to assume his new role in January 2025, while Karla stayed behind to manage the transition at home, ultimately joining him a few months later.

“There were a lot of emotions,” Karla said. “We were excited, but it was a big adjustment for both of us. I wanted to make sure he felt supported, because I knew this was going to be something meaningful for both of us.”

“I remember thinking right away, this is going to be a great collaboration. Tony brings deep knowledge, but also humility. He came in ready to learn from us, not just lead us.”
Billy Liao, operations director for Hormel Foods in China

On the professional side, the preparation was equally involved. Muller immersed himself in China’s business landscape, reviewing product lines, team structures and the technical gaps in need of addressing. One of his earliest and most important connections was with Billy Liao, operations director for Hormel Foods in China, whose partnership would become a cornerstone of his adjustment.

“I remember thinking right away, this is going to be a great collaboration,” said Liao, who served as acting R&D lead in China prior to Muller’s arrival. “Tony brings deep knowledge, but also humility. He came in ready to learn from us, not just lead us.”

That mutual respect helped lay the foundation for a smooth entry. A month before his full-time move, Muller visited Jiaxing for the first time, and it left a lasting impression. As his car pulled into the facility, nearly the entire R&D team stepped outside to welcome him. Smiles, handshakes and waves surrounded Muller as he entered the building, an early indicator that while the setting was still new, the team was eager to make him feel at home.

“I wasn’t expecting that kind of welcome,” Muller said. “It really meant a lot. It made me want to show up and give them my best every day.”

Adjusting to life in China came with its challenges — new rhythms, new customs, and most notably, a new language. Learning Mandarin is perhaps Muller’s biggest undertaking. He splits his time between virtual lessons and steady immersion through translation apps and everyday practice. Team members like Liao pitch in, too, offering real-time corrections and vocabulary tips.

It’s a slow build, but Muller is committed, with hopes of one day conducting internal meetings entirely in Mandarin. “My teacher told me recently, ‘I can tell that you’ve been living there because you speak it much more fluently,’” Muller said. “There are still a lot of communication gaps, where I need somebody bilingual to translate, but I’m slowly getting there, and it certainly helps to have such incredible support from the team here to help me along.”

Hitting the Ground Running

Muller’s steady approach is shaping more than just his language skills.

In the months since his arrival, his presence has already left a noticeable impression. He wasn’t there to reinvent the wheel. He knew the team in China was already strong. But with his guidance, they began to refine their focus, sharpen their execution and lean more confidently into strategic innovation.

“He helps people get to where they need to go,” said Marianne Pollock, director of innovation for Hormel Foods International. “He takes complex problems and breaks them down in a way that builds confidence.”

“The talent on this team is amazing. They’re smart, driven, collaborative. Honestly, I’m amazed every day by what they’re capable of.”
Tony Muller, Senior R&D manager at Hormel Foods

Working closely with Liao and the broader leadership group, Muller has helped accelerate a range of initiatives, from product development timelines to cross-functional integration. He’s provided structure and clarity around long-term planning, while also carving out space for his team to innovate freely. The result is a culture that he believes is more cohesive, more empowered and more ready to scale.

“The talent on this team is amazing,” Muller said. “They’re smart, driven, collaborative. Honestly, I’m amazed every day by what they’re capable of.”

One of Muller’s early wins was establishing a tighter feedback loop between the R&D team and the commercial side of the business. He’s also helped instill more structure in how projects are scoped and prioritized, small shifts that have brought greater focus to day-to-day execution. By fostering stronger communication and more proactive engagement, he’s helped ensure that technical innovation stays closely aligned with consumer needs and market realities.

“He was the right guy for the job and he’s proving that every day.”
Kevin Myers Group Vice President of Supply Chain at Hormel Foods

“It’s easy to get siloed, especially when you’re moving fast,” Muller said. “But when you keep the bigger picture in view, the work gets more meaningful and more effective.”

That mindset has already made a difference. Projects are moving faster. Teams are collaborating more openly. The groundwork is being laid for long-term growth, and for Muller, progress is energizing.

“There’s still so much we can do,” he said. “I’m excited about what’s next.”

So is Kevin Myers. For him, none of this comes as a surprise. Muller’s leadership, his influence, the quiet steadiness that’s now helping guide a high-growth market — it’s exactly what he envisioned when he first asked the question.

“He was the right guy for the job,” Myers said, “and he’s proving that every day.”

The Right Guy for the Job

The Price of Opportunity

Hitting the Ground Running

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