Jim Snee’s job title is expanding. As of Nov. 20, he will not only be the Hormel Foods Corp. president and chief executive officer, he will be the chairman of the board.

Hormel Foods on Wednesday announced that the board of directors elected Snee to be the company’s next chairman. Current Chairman and retired CEO Jeffrey M. Ettinger is retiring.

“We thank Jeff for his outstanding leadership of Hormel Foods,” Snee said. “During Jeff’s tenure, the company experienced significant growth and expansion through organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and a continued focus on new product innovation.” 

Ettinger served on the Hormel Foods Board of Directors since May 2004 and as chairman of the board since November 2006.

Snee was appointed chief executive officer on Oct. 31, 2016, after serving as president and chief operating officer since October 2015. Snee’s career with Hormel Foods spans 28 years.

With Snee as president and CEO, Hormel Foods expanded its global footprint. In August, Hormel announced its first foray into South America with the acquisition of Cidade do Sol, a Brazilian meats company that offered more than 70 products including authentic meats such as mortadella, sausage and salami for Brazilian retail and food service markets under the popular Ceratti brand.

That was the third acquisition under Snee’s leadership. The first two were the Fontanini and Justin’s brands.

In August, Hormel acquired Chicago-based Fontanini Italian Meats and Sausages, a branded food service business, from Capitol Wholesale Meats, Inc.

In May 2016, Hormel acquired Boulder, Colorado-based Justin’s, LLC, owner of the Justin’s brand and a pioneer in nut butter-based snacking.

Hormel Foods is its 126th year in business. The company just announced its 357th consecutive quarterly dividend.

Snee is the 10th president and chief executive officer in the company’s history. He joined Hormel Foods in 1989 in the meat products division. He accepted multiple roles in the foodservice division, followed by being named director of corporate purchasing in 2006.

Snee was named vice president of affiliated business units in 2008, and in 2011 he became leader of Hormel Foods International, overseeing the company’s global portfolio.

Snee, whose hometown is Austin, earned a bachelor of arts degree in marketing from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He has also participated in Harvard Business School’s leadership programs.