John R. Tyson (businessman)

John R. Tyson
Born
John Randal Tyson

(1990-03-09) March 9, 1990
Alma materHarvard University (BA)
Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)
EmployerTyson Foods
TitleDirector, Tyson Foods
Criminal chargesDWI
Criminal trespassing
Public intoxication
FatherJohn H. Tyson
RelativesDonald J. Tyson (grandfather)
John W. Tyson (great-grandfather)

John Randal Tyson (born March 9, 1990) is an American businessman who was the chief financial officer at Tyson Foods. He is the fourth-generation in the Tyson Foods family dynasty. He was previously its chief sustainability officer from 2019 to 2022 before his removal following two alcohol-related arrests. In May 2025, he was appointed as the Director of Strategy and Acquisitions and Technology Committees on the Board at Tyson Foods.[1]

Early life

Tyson was born March 9, 1990.[2] He is the son of businessman John H. Tyson and great grandson of John W. Tyson, the founder of Tyson Foods.[3] He has one sister, Olivia Tyson, who serves as the President of the Tyson Family Foundation.[4][5]

He completed a bachelor's degree in economics and psychology at Harvard University and a master of business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2018.[6]

Work

Tyson worked for JPMorgan Chase and was also a private equity and venture capital investor.[3][6] He was previously a lecturer at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.[7] Tyson had been involved in the family business from a young age, and always planned to return to the business. In a 2024 interview with Arkansas Money and Politics, he reflected on his previous experience:

"...my interest in the company only accelerated in college when I started attending board meetings. Throughout my education and my early work experience, I looked for ways to build skills that would help serve me in my career at Tyson Foods. Today, I’m grateful and humbled by the opportunity to help lead it into the future.”[8]

In 2019, Tyson became the chief sustainability officer (CFO) of Tyson Foods, succeeding Justin Whitmore.[6] Tyson was then promoted to chief financial officer of Tyson Foods in September 2022, succeeding Stewart Glendinning.[3] After his 2022 arrest, he addressed the incident during a November earnings call. It was reported that CEO Donnie King assured reporters and board members an internal governance review would be undertaken in response to the incident.[9] He was ultimately removed from his position as chief financial officer in 2024 following the two alcohol related incidents.

Curt Calaway immediately succeeded Tyson as interim CFO.[10] After his removal, he was demoted to a senior vice president position. He served in this role until 2025, when he was appointed as a director of the Board, overseeing the Strategy and Acquisitions and Technology committees.[1] Tyson’s board of directors now includes 15 directors, four of which are members of the Tyson family.[11]

In fiscal year 2023, he received $2.9 million in total pay, including a base salary of $650,000 in addition to about $2 million in stock options, according to securities filings.[12] In 2024, it was reported he received an annual base salary of $200,000. According to SEC filings, it is pro-rated and included a stock restriction.[11]

Tyson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Winrock International and has been a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 2021.[13] Starting in 2023, he has become a President's Council Member at the Bipartisan Policy Center.[14] He currently serves as a board member, alongside his sister - the President - of the Tyson Family Foundation.[15] He is a Young Global Leader (YGL) at the World Economic Forum.[16]

Criminal prosecution

On November 6, 2022, Tyson was found asleep in a Fayetteville, Arkansas, home in the bed by the resident.[17] Tyson was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing and public intoxication.[18] Tyson pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing and public intoxication in January 2023.[19]

On June 13, 2024, Tyson was suspended from his position as CFO of Tyson Foods after he was arrested early that morning by University of Arkansas police in Fayetteville, for drunk driving.[20][21] His blood alcohol was found to be twice the legal limit for driving at .191[22] and he was released on a $1,105 bond nine hours later.[12] This was his second alcohol-related arrest, after the November 2022 incident.[20][23] He accepted a plea deal and was required to complete thirty two hours of community service and pay a fee of $960.[24][25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Tyson Foods Announces Addition of Olivia Tyson, John R. Tyson to Board of Directors". www.tysonfoods.com. 2025-05-08. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  2. ^ Sinnenberg, Jackson (2022-11-19). "Tyson's CFO shown forced out of stranger's bed in arrest footage". The National Desk. Retrieved 2023-11-28. at 29m25s in the video clip in article
  3. ^ a b c Maurer, Mark (2022-09-27). "Tyson Foods Promotes Chairman's Son to CFO Role". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  4. ^ "Olivia Tyson". www.tysonfoods.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  5. ^ "Olivia and John Randal Tyson Named to Tyson Foods Board of Directors". Arkansas Money and Politics. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  6. ^ a b c Allen, Anne (2019-09-11). "Tyson Foods Names John R. Tyson Chief Sustainability Officer". Deli Market News. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  7. ^ Owens, Nathan (2019-09-11). "Tyson descendant tasked with leading sustainability work". Arkansas Online. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  8. ^ Carter, Mark (2023-06-13). "At Tyson Foods, the Future Is Now: Homegrown Protein Provider Bullish on Business Model". AMP. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  9. ^ "Questions about John R. Tyson were brutal but justified". WATTPoultry.com. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  10. ^ "In interim CFO pick, Tyson draws on established finance creds | CFO Dive". www.cfodive.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  11. ^ a b Staff (2025-05-08). "Two family members added to Tyson Foods' board". Talk Business & Politics. Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  12. ^ a b Kerr, Jaren; Meyer, Gregory (2024-06-13). "Tyson Foods suspends finance chief over intoxicated driving arrest". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  13. ^ "John R. Tyson".
  14. ^ "John R. Tyson | Bipartisan Policy Center". bipartisanpolicy.org. Archived from the original on 2024-09-28. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  15. ^ According to John R. Tyson's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrtyson/details/experience/
  16. ^ "John R. Tyson". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  17. ^ Lenthang, Marlene (November 7, 2022). "Tyson Foods CFO arrested after drunkenly entering random woman's home and sleeping in her bed, police say". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  18. ^ Kavilanz, Parija (2022-11-07). "Tyson Foods CFO arrested after entering wrong home, falling asleep | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  19. ^ Roberts, Adam (2023-01-26). "John Tyson pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges, fined". KHBS. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  20. ^ a b Durbin, Dee-Ann (June 13, 2024). "Tyson Foods heir suspended as CFO after second alcohol-related arrest". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  21. ^ "Ex-Tyson CFO pleads guilty to drunk driving | CFO Dive". www.cfodive.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  22. ^ Staff (2024-10-21). "John Randal Tyson pleads guilty to DWI". Talk Business & Politics. Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved 2025-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Petri, Alexandra E. (2024-06-13). "Tyson Foods Suspends Executive After Second Alcohol-Related Arrest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  24. ^ Harvey, Simon (2025-05-13). "Ex-Tyson Foods CFO John Tyson named director after misdemeanours". Just Food. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  25. ^ Freitas Jr, Gertas (2024-10-17). "Tyson Heir found guilty of drunken driving but spared from jail". Bloomberg. New York: Bloomberg. Retrieved 2025-07-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)