Gemstone Foods has named Heath Loyd, a former executive at fellow US poultry group Wayne Farms, its new president and COO.

Loyd has worked in the US poultry sector for two decades. At Wayne Farms, he was responsible for facility operations. Loyd has also worked for Pilgrim’s Pride, where he was vice president of the company’s prepared foods division.

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He succeeds Mike Dankert who has moved to a role at Gemstone owner, the US investor Jamas Capital Management.

Gemstone does not have a CEO, with Loyd heading its organisational structure. Bill Andersen, the company’s most recent CEO, left the business last year after a brief stint at the helm. Andersen, a former executive at companies including Wayne Farms and Tyson Foods, took a role at another US poultry supplier, Peco Foods.

Alabama-based Gemstone supplies chicken portions and strips to wholesale and foodservice customers, as well as providing de-boning, cutting and packaging services.

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