# Donald King

> Donald “Donnie” King is a Tyson Foods director and former president and CEO, having led the company from June 2021 until October 2026. He began as an hourly poultry production employee in 1982, developed a career across operations and international leadership, and oversaw a period of poultry restructuring, automation investment and earnings recovery.

- **Role:** Director at Tyson Foods; former President and Chief Executive Officer
- **Organizations:** Tyson Foods, Valmac Industries, National Chicken Council, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in business management, University of Arkansas at Monticello
- **Known for:** Advanced from hourly production work to CEO of Tyson Foods., Led Tyson Foods from June 2021 to October 2026., Oversaw the period in which chicken segment reported operating results improved from a $770 million loss in fiscal 2023 to $988 million income in fiscal 2024.

## Career timeline

- **1982** — Begins at Valmac Industries as an hourly poultry production employee in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
- **1984** — Tyson acquires Valmac Industries.
- **2014** — Serves as President, North American Operations and Foodservice.
- **2015–2016** — Serves as President, North American Operations.
- **2017** — Leaves Tyson Foods, as described in the company’s January 2019 return announcement.
- **2019** — Returns as Group President, International; also takes Chief Administration Officer responsibilities.
- **2020** — Becomes Group President, Poultry in September.
- **2021** — Becomes COO in February and President and CEO effective June 2.
- **2022** — Elected to the board in February.
- **2026** — Jeff Schomburger succeeds him as CEO effective October 4; King remains a director.

## Achievements

- Advanced from hourly production work to CEO of Tyson Foods.
- Led Tyson Foods from June 2021 to October 2026.
- Oversaw the period in which chicken segment reported operating results improved from a $770 million loss in fiscal 2023 to $988 million income in fiscal 2024.
- Led during the opening of the $300 million Danville fully cooked poultry facility in November 2023.
- Elected to Tyson Foods’ board in February 2022.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — The announced CEO succession took effect October 4; current Tyson biography lists King as a director and former CEO.
- **2026-09** — Featured in Jeff Simmons’ Shared Table interview, published September 25, discussing his career and leadership.
- **2026-05** — Tyson announced Jeff Schomburger as his successor, with King remaining on the board.

## Links

- Website: https://www.tysonfoods.com/who-we-are/our-people/leadership/donnie-king

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/donald-king
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21