SMITHFIELD, VA. — A new leadership structure has been announced at Smithfield Foods, Inc. as part of the company's efforts to unify its operations, brands and more than 54,000 employees globally under one corporate umbrella.

Dennis Organ, an eight-year veteran of the company, has advanced to the newly created position of chief operating officer, U.S. operations. Mr. Organ will oversee the company’s domestic business operations, including hog production, fresh pork and packaged meats businesses, and will be responsible for strategic development, day-to-day operations and continued improvement of Smithfield Foods’ U.S. business.

Under the new structure, the following members of the leadership team will report to Mr. Organ: Gregg Schmidt, president, U.S. hog production; Jason Richter, executive vice-president, U.S. fresh pork; Russ Dokken, executive vice-president, U.S. packaged meats; Scott Saunders, executive vice-president, U.S. supply chain; and Joe Weber, executive vice-president, U.S. growth and emerging businesses.

Mr. Schmidt will remain president, U.S. hog production, until his planned retirement at yearend. Brady Stewart, formerly vice-president and general manager of Kansas City Sausage Co. and Pine Ridge Farms, has been promoted to executive vice-president, U.S. hog production, and will succeed Mr. Schmidt upon his retirement.

Smithfield acquired Kansas City Sausage Co. and Pine Ridge Farms in 2017.

Smithfield also has created a chief commercial officer, packaged meats, position. John Pauley, an 18-year veteran of the company and previously executive vice-president of retail sales, packaged meats, has filled that role and will be responsible for commercial strategy and development, domestic marketing activities, innovation and product development.

Keira Lombardo, a 16-year veteran of the company, has been named executive vice-president of corporate affairs and compliance. She will lead the company’s communications, government affairs, sustainability and investor relations efforts and oversees Smithfield’s compliance functions, including legal.

“Guided by our principles of responsibility, operational excellence and innovation, our new optimized structure and leadership team will further ignite our potential as ‘One Smithfield’ by allowing us to better identify and seek out opportunities to improve our business, including ways to work smarter, serve customers better and make Smithfield the best of the best,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods.