GARNER, N.C. – Butterball LLC has aligned its risk management initiatives throughout all departments by promoting Suzanne Griffin to senior vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer. Griffin joined Butterball in 2012 as the company’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. She brings a wide background to the newly created role with legal experience in agriculture, industry and finance. Griffin has provided legal advice to senior management and worked closely on business and commercial issues.

Griffin’s new responsibilities will include environmental and workplace safety and management in addition to oversight of other risk related issues. Lankford Ruffin, corporate environmental manager, and Brian Rodgers, senior director of workplace safety and risk management, will now report directly to Griffin.

“Suzanne has done an excellent job providing consultative support in various areas of risk management, and given the complexity of our business, we feel there is a need to centralize these activities under one umbrella,” said President and CEO Jay Jandrain. “She and her new team will work to align her functions with the company’s strategic priorities, focusing on improved processes. Our industry-leading workplace safety and environmental records will continue to be top priorities for our company and will only be enhanced under Suzanne’s leadership.”

Prior to Butterball, Griffin’s career included senior positions in the legal departments of Continental Grain Company, RBC Bank and experience at law firms. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Univ. of Illinois, College of Agriculture and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern Univ. School of Law.