Ocean Spray Cranberries has unveiled a new CEO five months after the US juice and snacks maker terminated the contract of previous head Bobby Chacko for violating an anti-harassment policy.

Tom Hayes, a former CEO of US meat giant Tyson Foods, takes over from Chacko this month, Ocean Spray said yesterday (20 July). Chacko left in February.

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Ocean Spray gave no details on Chacko’s exit other than he transgressed the company’s corporate policy on harassment. At the time, Ocean Spray management said they “pledged to hold everyone accountable and ensure that every decision is made in the best interest of the cooperative”.

Hayes was CEO of Tyson Foods for under two years until he stood down in 2018. He joined Tyson as president of its foodservice business in 2014 when the company acquired US food manufacturer Hillshire Brands for US$8.55bn. Hayes’ most recent role was as a partner at a private-equity firm Entrepreneurial Equity Partners.

“Tom’s expertise in supply chain management, his understanding of agriculture and the challenges faced by growers, and his decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry make him ideally suited to lead Ocean Spray into its second century,” said Peter Dhillon, chairman of the board of directors at Ocean Spray.

Last year, Ocean Spray named ex-Kraft Heinz man Daniel Cunha as its CFO.

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