Joseph M. Stewart, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) senior vice president, corporate affairs and chief ethics officer, is retiring from the company after 21 years of service. During his career, Stewart has been a primary spokesperson for the company at the local, state, national and international level.

“Joe has represented Kellogg with great business, political and social distinction around the world,” said Carlos M. Gutierrez, Kellogg Company chairman and chief executive officer. “We have benefited greatly from his energetic and caring spirit, his wise counsel and his deep commitment to Kellogg Company.”

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After a ten-year career as director of child nutrition programs for the Washington, D.C. public schools and as one of the nation’s top foodservice directors, Stewart joined Kellogg in 1980 as director, child nutrition programs. He was promoted to director, corporate communications in 1981, vice president, public affairs in 1985 and senior vice president, corporate affairs in 1988. He was named the company’s first chief ethics officer last year.

Stewart earlier served as director, food services for Howard University in Washington D.C., as director, food services for the city’s public schools and as state director for child nutrition programs, District of Columbia. He was twice appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to the U.S. Agriculture Extension Users Advisory Board.

He currently serves on a number of boards, including AAA of Michigan, the Michigan National Bank Advisory Board, the Southern University System Foundation, Stewart Industries, LLC and Pyper Products. He chairs the Kellogg Company Twenty-Five Year Employees’ Trust Fund, Inc., the Kellogg Better Government Committee and Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund.

The Battle Creek resident has also chaired the governing board of the Battle Creek Health System, the Calhoun County Health Improvement Program, the Battle Creek United Arts Council’s Vision Quest 5000 Campaign and a Greater Battle Creek United Way Campaign. Other board memberships have included the Greater Battle Creek Urban League and the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism. Stewart is a life member of the NAACP.

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Born in Maringouin, La., Stewart received a bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition and an honorary doctorate of science from Southern University in Baton Rouge. He also has an honorary degree in public service from Albion College in Albion, Mich.

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