AUSTIN, MINN. – Hormel Foods Corp. announced on Feb. 1, the upcoming retirement of Glenn Leitch, the company’s executive vice president of supply chain, and the promotions of Mark Coffey to group vice president of supply chain and Jen Ehresmann to vice president of supply chain. Leitch’s retirement is effective during the second quarter of 2021, according to the company.

Coffey is now working as senior vice president of supply chain and manufacturing and Ehresmann’s current role is director of customer logistics and strategy. More than 30 production facilities and co-packing partners make up Hormel’s supply chain, which produces thousands of diverse products to customers across the globe. 

Early in Leitch’s career with Hormel, which began in 1996, he served in multiple leadership positions with its turkey subsidiary, Jennie-O Turkey Store. He was promoted to senior vice president of its commodity and supply division in 2001 and was appointed to general manager in 2011 and promoted to president that same year. He was promoted to his current position in 2017.

“Glenn’s expertise has been invaluable as we have optimized our global supply chain to be more strategic, cost-effective and agile to meet the needs of today’s changing marketplace,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel. “During this last year, facing an unprecedented pandemic with supply chain interruptions, Glenn has been an extraordinary and tireless leader, ensuring Hormel Foods was able to protect the safety of our global workforce while producing food for our customers and consumers. We thank him for his leadership and his expertise and wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”

In his new role, Coffey will lead Hormel’s One Supply Chain global operation. This includes executing the company’s strategy and optimizing it to ensure sustainable growth into the future.

Snee said Coffey has proven his value to the company during his 30-plus year career at Hormel, which included working in operations and management roles, including working from the company’s headquarters. He served in his current position since 2017.

“His expertise in procurement, manufacturing, logistics, research and development, quality management and plant operations makes him the ideal person to assume this important role. I am confident that Mark will continue to bring a strategic focus to building our One Supply Chain capabilities, operational excellence and long-term growth for the enterprise.”

Since joining Hormel in 2001, Ehresmann worked in roles involving product exporting, management and marketing in addition to working as senior vice president of commodity and supply chain with Jennie-O Turkey Store.  

“Jen brings significant supply chain expertise to this role,” Snee said. “Jen’s expertise managing complicated supply chains, while also understanding the connectivity to sales and marketing strategy, will be incredibly valuable as we continue to focus on our One Supply Chain strategy.”