Hormel Foods CEO Jeffrey Ettinger was elected as the 2009-2010 chairman of the American Meat Institute board of directors at the group’s annual business meeting at the Worldwide Food Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Ettinger began his career at Hormel Foods as a corporate attorney in 1989 and advanced to numerous leadership positions at within the company and Jennie-O Turkey Store.

He was named president and chief operating officer of Hormel Foods in 2004 and was elected CEO in 2005. He was elected chairman of the board for Hormel Foods in November 2006.

AMI appointed a total six new officers to the board.

AMI is a Washington, D.C., based national trade association that represents companies that process about 95 percent of red meat and 70 percent of Turkey in the U.S.

The association is influential in legislation, regulation and media activity pertaining to the meat and poultry industry. AMI also conducts scientific research to help companies improve their products.