Hormel Foods Announces Executive Retirement, Advancement

“Jim’s leadership and expertise in managing the company through regulatory and policy-making changes has been significant to the company’s long-term success,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “He has been at the forefront on managing risk for the company on a daily basis, protecting the company’s intellectual property and overseeing all acquisitions, contracts, litigations and changes to corporate governance. We wish Jim and his wife, Annie, the best in retirement.”

Cavanaugh spent his 29-year career with the company in law. He started at Hormel Foods in 1982 as associate corporate attorney and spent the first 20 years of his career advancing through the law department as a labor specialist and corporate attorney. In 2001, he was named corporate secretary and senior attorney. He was promoted to his current position of general counsel and senior vice president of external affairs in 2005, and served as corporate secretary until 2007.

Lori J. Marco will succeed Cavanaugh as vice president of external affairs and general counsel. She will oversee law, corporate communications and legislative and regulatory affairs.

Marco started her career at Hormel Foods in 2004 as a corporate attorney and was named senior attorney in 2007. Marco is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association and Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association.