AUSTIN, Minn. – Hormel Foods Corp. has announced a string of leadership changes. Tom Day, executive vice president of refrigerated foods, will retire at the end of the first quarter of 2020. He will be succeeded by Deanna Brady, group vice president of consumer sales.

Brady has led the consumer products sales business since 2015. She has held several leadership roles at Hormel since joining the company in 1996, including vice president of food service sales and group vice president of food service.

Day is retiring after more than 40 years of leadership experience. Along with refrigerated foods, Hormel’s largest segment, he has led several subsidiaries and divisions, including Hormel Foods food service, Hormel deli solutions, meat products, fresh pork and affiliated businesses, Burke Corp. and Dan’s Prize. He recently oversaw the integration of three acquisitions, including Applegate, Fontanini and Columbus Craft Meats.

“He [Day] is a respected mentor and role model to many within the Hormel Foods family,” said James P. Snee, chairman, president and CEO at Hormel Foods. “He will certainly be missed, but his legacy of excellence will live on well beyond his retirement.”

P.J. Connor, senior vice president of sales and consumer products, will assume Brady’s post leading the consumer products sales business. He currently is responsible for all sales activities surrounding the company’s Walmart business. Tony Hoffman, vice president of planning and support, will succeed Connor in running Hormel’s Walmart business.