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John R. Tyson

Board Member & Chair of the Strategy and Acquisitions Committee

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Springdale, AR, USA

John R Tyson

Igor Tulchinsky

Pictet Wealth Management

John Tyson’s Biography

John Randal Tyson is a board member of Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies and a leading producer of protein products and prepared foods. Headquartered in Arkansas, Tyson Foods serves customers in more than 100 countries and plays a significant role in global food supply chains. John represents the fourth generation of the Tyson family to serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

John joined Tyson Foods in 2019 and held several roles on the enterprise leadership team — including Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy — before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he continued to lead enterprise strategy and sustainability. His responsibilities included financial oversight, long-term planning, and capital allocation across the company’s diversified business segments, working closely with senior leadership on company-wide investment decisions.

Currently, as Chair of the Board’s Strategy and Acquisitions Committee, John draws on this combined background in strategy, finance, and enterprise leadership to support board... John Randal Tyson is a board member of Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies and a leading producer of protein products and prepared foods. Headquartered in Arkansas, Tyson Foods serves customers in more than 100 countries and plays a significant role in global food supply chains. John represents the fourth generation of the Tyson family to serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

John joined Tyson Foods in 2019 and held several roles on the enterprise leadership team — including Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy — before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he continued to lead enterprise strategy and sustainability. His responsibilities included financial oversight, long-term planning, and capital allocation across the company’s diversified business segments, working closely with senior leadership on company-wide investment decisions.

Currently, as Chair of the Board’s Strategy and Acquisitions Committee, John draws on this combined background in strategy, finance, and enterprise leadership to support board oversight of the company’s long-term direction and portfolio priorities.

Before joining Tyson Foods, John gained experience in financial services, working as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan before moving into private equity and venture capital investing.

John also holds external governance and advisory positions. He serves as a board director of Arkansas Cinema Society and is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has also served as a lecturer at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. In 2022 he was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

John holds a BA in Economics and a secondary degree in Psychology from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. READ MORE VIEW LESS

John Tyson’s Background

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Board Member & Chair of the Strategy and Acquisitions Committee

2025 - Present

Springdale, AR, USA

Tyson Foods is a Fortune 100 food company founded in 1935 and a leading processor of beef, pork, and chicken, with a significant portfolio of prepared and branded foods. The company serves retail, foodservice, and institutional customers globally, supported by large-scale manufacturing and integrated supply chains.

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Chief Sustainability Officer, EVP Strategy, and Chief Financial Officer

2019 - 2024

Springdale, AR, USA

John R. Tyson began his career at Tyson Foods in roles focused on sustainability and long-term planning, later taking on broader responsibility for corporate direction. He subsequently assumed the company’s CFO position before transitioning to the board.

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John Tyson’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

Arkansas Cinema Society

Board Member

Nov 2025 - Present

Little Rock, AR, USA

Arkansas Cinema Society is a nonprofit arts organization that builds and nurtures a local film community by hosting screenings, festivals, workshops and networking events to connect film lovers and support new and existing filmmaking talent in the state.

Previous Board Positions

Winrock International

Board Member & Member of the Audit Committee

2021 - 2024

Little Rock, AR, USA

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, focused on advancing economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and social equity. It works globally with governments, businesses, and communities to deliver practical solutions in agriculture, climate, and development.

Media

WSJ Video: Investing in the Future of Food

Video

Jun 2022

As part of the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum 2022, John participated in a discussion titled "Investing in the Future of Food."

To Dine For Podcast: Interview with John R. Tyson

Podcast Interview

May 2021

In this podcast, host Kate Sullivan talks with John R. Tyson, then serving as Chief Sustainability Officer of Tyson Foods. The conversation covers his background, including his education and rise within the company, and his efforts to advance sustainability and innovation at Tyson Foods, focusing on how the company is thinking about social responsibility and long-term environmental goals.

Memberships

Council on Foreign Relations

Term Member

Jun 2021 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan organization focused on US foreign policy and international affairs. A term member is an early- to mid-career professional selected for a time-limited program that provides access to policy discussions, events, and expert networks, and has no governance or decision-making responsibilities.

Awards & Recognition

World Economic Forum

Young Global Leader

Apr 2022

Cologny, CH

The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders program is a selective initiative that recognizes emerging leaders from business, government, and civil society for their professional achievements and potential global impact. John R. Tyson was named a Young Global Leader as a member of the program’s 2022 class.

Speaking Engagements

Concordia Annual Summit

The Fight for Food: Value Chains and Partnerships

Sep 2022

New York, NY, USA

At the 2022 Concordia Annual Summit, John R. Tyson, then Executive Vice President, Strategy & Chief Sustainability Officer of Tyson Foods, spoke in the session “The Fight for Food: Value Chains and Partnerships.” He discussed Tyson Foods’ approach to advancing a more sustainable protein system, with a focus on corporate strategy, sustainability, and animal welfare.

Press Releases

Tyson Foods Announces Addition of Olivia Tyson, John R. Tyson to Board of Directors

Press Release

May 2025

Springdale, AR, USA

On May 8, 2025, Tyson Foods announced the appointment of Olivia Tyson and John Tyson to its Board of Directors, effective the same day. Olivia will serve on the Compensation and Leadership Development and Technology Committees, and John will serve on the Strategy and Acquisitions and Technology Committees.

From Entrepreneurs to Scientists: Meet the 2022 Class of Young Global Leaders

Press Release

Apr 2022

Davos, CH

The World Economic Forum unveiled its 2022 Class of Young Global Leaders, a diverse group of around 110 exceptional innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and activists that includes John R. Tyson.

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John Tyson’s Education

Harvard University

Economics (BA), Secondary degree in Psychology

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Master of Business Administration (MBA)