Devin Cole has been appointed chief operating officer (COO) of Tyson Foods.
At the same time Tyson Foods announced Cole’s new job title, it announced that Brady Stewart, who was Tyson’s president of its beef, pork and prepared foods operations, as well as the company’s chief supply chain officer, has left the company.
Cole, who was already the president of Tyson Foods’ poultry and international business segments, will continue to lead those business segments. With his new role, Cole will also be responsible for leading the beef, pork and prepared foods segments. Cole will continue to report to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King.
Tyson Foods credits Cole for delivering the company’s third consecutive quarter of volume growth in poultry and improved profitability to the international business, by driving efficiencies and cost controls.
“We have strong momentum as we head into our new fiscal year, and we remain committed to executing our long-term strategy and operating the company guided by our culture and core values. I am confident that under Devin’s leadership our business will continue to thrive,” King stated.
Cole is in his second stint of employment with Tyson Foods. He joined the company in 1995, becoming a group vice president and later chief commercial officer, before departing the company in 2014.
During his time away from Tyson Foods, Cole also served as the president of Keystone Foods U.S.. He departed there in 2016, about two years before Tyson acquired Keystone Foods.
Cole then spent about seven years with George’s Inc., first as the chief strategy and commercial officer, and later as the chief operating officer.
He rejoined Tyson Foods in 2024 to lead Tyson’s McDonald’s business. Later that year, following the departure of Tyson’s international group president, Amy Tu, Cole was chosen to succeed her. In February, Cole was also named president of the poultry business, succeeding Wes Morris, who retired.
Other personnel matters
In a press release, Tyson Foods stated that Stewart’s departure from the company was based on “certain actions taken by Brady violated the Tyson Foods code of conduct.”
The company stated that with Stewart’s departure, the supply chain, food safety, health and safety, environmental and transportation functions will report directly to King.
Stewart came to Tyson Foods in 2022. He was previously the COO of Smithfield Foods.
Further announcements concerning leadership and organizational updates will be shared by Tyson Foods prior to September 28, which will be the start of the company’s 2026 fiscal year.
Tyson Foods is the largest broiler company in the United States, as well as the nation’s sixth largest turkey producer and third largest feed producer.
