BURLINGTON, MASS. and PLANO, TEXAS – Justin Whitmore, executive vice president of alternative proteins at Tyson Foods Inc., will join the c-suite at Keurig Dr Pepper as Chief Strategy Officer effective March 1. In his new role with the international beverage company, Whitmore will lead enterprise strategy work, including mergers and acquisitions, and corporate partnerships.

Whitmore joined Tyson Foods in 2017 as executive vice president, corporate strategy, and the company’s first chief sustainability officer. In September 2019, John R. Tyson was appointed chief sustainability officer and Whitmore focused his full attention to leading the company’s alternative protein business as executive vice president of alternative proteins.

During Whitmore’s tenure, Tyson Foods invested in cultured meat producers Future Meat Technologies and Memphis Meat, Beyond Meat, maker of the plant-based Beyond Burger and Tovala, which makes steam-based ovens and markets them with meal kit subscription services.

Keurig Dr Pepper is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion and nearly 26,000 employees. The company's portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands includes Keurig, Dr Pepper, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Canada Dry, Snapple, Bai, Mott's, CORE and The Original Donut Shop.

“Justin is an exceptional addition to the KDP leadership team,” said Bob Gamgort, chairman and chief executive officer of KDP. “He has a proven track record as an executive who drives innovative strategies, champions consumer insights and delivers transformative results. We’re excited to welcome him to our leadership team.”

Prior to joining Tyson Foods, Whitmore was an associate partner at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on consumer products and clients in the food and beverage sector. He was previously with Booz & Company, now known as Strategy& as part of the PwC network.

Whitmore holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2019, he was named to CNN’s Risk Takers list, which recognizes the top 20 leaders pushing global business forward. He also has been named one of the “Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine and among Black Enterprise Magazine’s “300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.”