Former Tyson Foods CFO returns as board member despite past incidents: Trial Balance

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Lauren Muskett and Adam Zaki

Mon, May 12, 2025, 4:00 AM 3 min read

Tyson, who previously served as both CFO and chief strategy officer, pleaded guilty to two separate events — one in which he was found asleep in a stranger’s bed and another in which he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He will now serve on the board’s strategy and acquisitions and technology committees.

His sister, Olivia Tyson, has also been named to the board. Though her corporate experience is limited, she will serve on the compensation and leadership development and technology committees. She has led the Tyson Family Foundation as president since 2018 and is also the co-founder of a small film production and financing company.

John H. Tyson, their father, is the current Chairman of Tyson Foods and the only family member in a formal operational leadership role. He stepped down as CEO in 2006. No Tyson family members have served on the executive leadership team since John R. Tyson was replaced by Curt Calaway as interim CFO following his second arrest.

The company has faced continued leadership turnover and public scrutiny beyond the conduct of its former CFO. It has been accused of using its market size to influence the broader meatpacking industry and was sued for allegedly making false climate-related claims. Despite criticism from some members of Congress for recently exploiting child labor and describing their practices as “anti-American,” Tyson Foods has recently taken steps to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure its workforce maintains legal immigration or citizenship status.