Hormel Foods Corp. announced this morning the upcoming retirements of Richard Bross, group vice president of Hormel, president of Hormel Foods International Corporation, and Ronald Fielding, executive vice president of corporate strategy, planning and development.

“Thank you to Rick and Ron for their long-term careers at Hormel Foods. We greatly appreciate their leadership and wish them both the best in their retirements,” said Hormel President and CEO Jeff Ettinger.

The following advancements will take place as a result of the retirements:

James Snee, vice president of Hormel, senior vice president of HFIC, will replace Bross in the position of group vice president of Hormel, and president of HFIC, effective Oct. 29.

Fred Halvin, director of corporate development, will assume responsibility for corporate development in the position of vice president, corporate development, effective Oct. 29.

“Congratulations to Jim and Fred on their advancements,” Ettinger said. “We look forward to their continued leadership.”

Bross: In 1973, Bross began his career at Hormel in grocery products sales in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area. In 1981, he became a product marketing manager in the grocery products division at the Corporate Office in Austin, where he held a variety of manager and director level positions. In 1995, he became the vice president of grocery products and in 1999 was promoted to vice president of Hormel, president of HFIC. In 2001, he assumed his current position as group vice president of Hormel, president of HFIC.

Fielding: Fielding joined Hormel in 1994 as a meat products regional sales manager in Arlington, Texas. In 1995, he became the vice president of HFIC at the corporate office and was named president of HFIC the next year. In 1997, he moved to vice president of Hormel, president of HFIC. Fielding was named group vice president, meat products, in 1999 and held several other group vice president positions until 2007 when he was promoted to executive vice president of Grocery Products, mergers and acquisitions. He moved to executive vice president of grocery products, corporate development, in 2008 and to his current position as executive vice president of corporate strategy, planning and development in 2010.

Snee: Snee began his career at Hormel in Hayward, Calif., in 1989 in the foodservice division where he held various sales positions before being named foodservice territory manager in San Francisco, Calif., in 1991. In 1992, Snee became an associate product manager in foodservice at the corporate office and moved to manager of inventory and distribution for refrigerated foods in 1995. He moved back to the foodservice division in Lebanon, N.J., in 1996 and held various manager positions before being named director of purchasing at the corporate office in 2006. In 2008, he was named vice president of affiliated business units, refrigerated foods, and in 2011 was promoted to vice president of Hormel and senior vice president, HFIC.

Halvin: Halvin joined Hormel Foods in 1985 as an accountant at the Fremont, Neb., Plant. In 1990, he moved to the corporate office where he held a variety of positions, including cost analyst, assistant controller, treasurer and director of investor relations. In 2007, Halvin was promoted to director of mergers, acquisitions and strategy, and he assumed his current position as the director of corporate development in 2008.

Hormel names Land O’Lakes CEO to board

Hormel announced Wednesday that Christopher Policinski, president and CEO at Land O’Lakes, Inc., as the newest member of the Hormel Foods Board of Directors, effective Sept. 22.

“We welcome Chris to the board and look forward to his contributions to the growth and development of our employees, consistent returns to shareholders, and to the long-term success of Hormel Foods,” Ettinger said.

Policinski has more than 30 years of experience in the food industry. Prior to joining Land O’Lakes, he held leadership positions with Kraft General Foods, Bristol Meyers Squibb and the Pillsbury Co. He joined Land O’Lakes in 1997 as vice president of strategy and business development. Policinski later became CEO of the Land O’Lakes dairy foods business unit and was appointed president and CEO in 2005.

Policinski is also a member of the board of directors of several industry associations, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Milk Producers Federation and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, as well as the United States Global Leadership Campaign, Xcel Energy, Inc., and local community boards, including the Greater Twin Cities United Way.

Hormel declares dividend

The Board of Directors of Hormel declared a regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share on the common stock of the corporation.

The dividend will be paid Nov. 15, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 22, 2012.

The Nov. 15 payment will be the 337th consecutive quarterly dividend for Hormel. Since becoming a public company in 1928, Hormel has paid a regular quarterly dividend without interruption.