SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. announced on Sept. 5 that Karen Knutson will lead all government relations activities for the company.

Knutson will serve as Tyson’s senior vice president for global government affairs out of its Washington, D.C., office. She will be responsible for state, federal and international government relations for the company and its subsidiaries.

“Karen brings extraordinary energy, strategic vision, and deep domestic and international expertise to this role,” said Amy Tu, executive vice president and general counsel for Tyson Foods. “As our company grows, we need the right team to navigate us through increasingly complex policy issues in a dynamic political landscape. We have a terrific team of professionals, and we are excited to welcome Karen.”

Knutson holds 30 years of government-related experience, most recently serving as a government affairs and policy leader for General Electric. Her career has also included different roles within the federal government including chief of staff and legislative director in the US Senate. She also served as deputy assistant to former Vice President Dick Cheney for domestic policy.