SPRINGDALE, Ark. — John R. Tyson has been appointed chief sustainability officer for Tyson Foods Inc. He succeeds Justin Whitmore, who has held the role since 2017 and will now turn his full attention to leading Tyson Foods’ alternative protein business as its executive vice president of alternative proteins.

In his new role, Tyson will lead the company’s efforts to support a more sustainable food system, Tyson Foods said. He is tasked with implementing the company’s sustainability strategy and commitments as well as managing the sustainability, animal welfare, environmental and social responsibility teams.

“I am excited to play a role in leading our company’s sustainability efforts,” Tyson said. “Taking care of our people and our planet is a priority for Tyson Foods. We are uniquely positioned to lead within the global food system, and therefore we must continue challenging ourselves to be stewards of our natural resources while striving to feed the world safely, affordably and with delicious food.”

Tyson is a fourth-generation Tyson family member who recently joined Tyson Foods. He is also a lecturer at the Sam M. Walton School of Business at the Univ. of Arkansas. Tyson previously worked in investment banking for J.P. Morgan and as a private equity and venture capital investor.

“John has a passion for sustainability as well as the leadership skills to help continue the momentum we’ve built,” said Noel W. White, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. “He cares deeply about the people of this company, understands the strategic growth opportunities in sustainable protein, and recognizes the importance of our enterprise-wide sustainability commitments.”