Curt Calaway, serving as interim CFO, has been confirmed as the new Chief Financial Officer for Tyson Foods. In announcing the appointment, Donnie King, president and CEO stated, “Curt is a proven leader with deep industry knowledge and a wealth of experience in financial strategy and reporting.” He has served as CFO for the Prepared Food Business segment and was involved in various mergers and acquisitions as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer since 2021.
Previous to joining Tyson Foods, Calaway occupied positions of responsibility with PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP for over eleven years.
The interesting question is why Calaway was not appointed to the position of CFO and was passed over for John R. Tyson who is currently on health-related leave. Although John Tyson has attained technical and professional qualification, the questions of maturity, experience and management acumen should have predicated a less stellar advance in the Company. Tyson Foods is a publicly quoted enterprise, and the initial appointment should have raised questions with a Board less subservient to a dynastic culture with overtones of nepotism. Given the circumstances shareholders deserved better.