---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-25-061357"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "HRL"
cik: "0000048465"
company_name: "HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/"
filed_at: "2025-06-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-19T00:26:30.481073+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Hormel Foods appoints Jeffrey M. Ettinger as Interim CEO, John F. Ghingo as President from July 14, 2025

## Summary
- Jeffrey M. Ettinger, former CEO (2006-2016), returns as Interim CEO until Oct 25, 2026; base salary $1.2M, one-time equity grant $7.2M.
- John F. Ghingo appointed President and Board member; base salary $730k, annual LTIP target $3.2M, 100k operators' shares.
- James P. Snee retires as CEO after FY2025 (Oct 26, 2025); will serve as special advisor until then, then 18-month consulting agreement.
- Ettinger and Ghingo employment agreements include severance provisions; Ghingo's good reason includes failure to report directly to Board by Dec 31, 2026.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-25-061357
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: HRL
- cik: 0000048465
- company_name: HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/
- filed_at: 2025-06-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/tm2518560d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-061357
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-061357.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-061357.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John F. Ghingo was appointed as President at HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President
  source text: the Board has appointed Mr. Jeffrey M. Ettinger as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the 'Interim CEO') and Mr. John F. Ghingo as the President of the Company (the 'President'), in each case effective as of July 14, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm
- Executive change
  James P. Snee departed as President at HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: retiring
  - Role: President
  source text: James P. Snee, President and Chief Executive Officer ('CEO') of the Company will be retiring at the end of the Company's fiscal year 2025, which ends October 26, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm
- Executive change
  John F. Ghingo was appointed as member of the Board at HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: member of the Board
  source text: The Board has also appointed Mr. Ghingo as a member of the Board, effective as of July 14, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm
- Executive change
  Jeffrey M. Ettinger was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer at HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board has appointed Mr. Jeffrey M. Ettinger as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the 'Interim CEO') and Mr. John F. Ghingo as the President of the Company (the 'President'), in each case effective as of July 14, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm
- Executive change
  James P. Snee departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: retiring
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: James P. Snee, President and Chief Executive Officer ('CEO') of the Company will be retiring at the end of the Company's fiscal year 2025, which ends October 26, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/48465/000110465925061357/0001104659-25-061357-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.