Perdue Incorporated has announced several changes within the Senior Management Team of the nation’s third largest poultry company.

Jim Leighton named Foodservice Division President

Jim Leighton has been named President of the Foodservice Division of the Perdue Food Products Group, effective April 6, 2009. He also assumes additional responsibility for the International channel. Leighton, who brings more than 25 years of varied food industry experience to the role, joined Perdue in 2006 as Senior Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain Management. Prior to joining Perdue, he was Senior Vice President of Operations at ConAgra Foods, and held positions of increasing responsibility with Hain Celestial Food Group, Celestial Seasonings Inc., Nabisco and Richland Bakeries Inc.

“Jim has been an effective leader in implementing new approaches in our operations to make them more effective and efficient by engaging our associates,” said Mike Roberts, President of the Perdue Food Products Group. “I’m confident Jim’s food industry and general management experience as well as his progressive thinking will be a catalyst for our Foodservice business as we continue to grow this value-added portion of the Food Products business.”

Clint Rivers named Senior Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain Management

Clint Rivers has joined Perdue as Senior Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain Management, effective July 7, 2009. He brings more than 28 years of food industry experience to Perdue, the most recent 20 in increasingly more responsible capacities with Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, where he was most recently President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We’re pleased to have someone with Clint’s strengths and extensive knowledge in the operations arena join our company,” said Roberts.  “Clint is a seasoned poultry industry professional with a proven track record of increasing bottom-line growth. I’m confident he’ll be a great asset to Perdue.”

Luis A. Luna named Vice President of Corporate Communications

Luis A. Luna has been named Vice President of Corporate Communications, effective August 3, 2009. “Luis brings more than 30 years of experience in federal government and non-profit organizations,” said Chairman Jim Perdue. “His public affairs experience will serve Perdue well as we work to effectively communicate Perdue’s leadership and address increasing stakeholder scrutiny and government oversight.”

Luna will be responsible for media and community relations, internal and external communications, corporate contributions and will be the primary spokesperson for the corporation.  Additionally, he will provide strategic analysis and counsel to the executive management team on a wide range of communication issues to support the business goals of the company and its subsidiaries.

Luna, who grew up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, was most recently a senior advisor for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Prior to that, he was named by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency.  He also worked as Deputy Administrator at the USDA Rural Development’s Office of Community Development, as a Commissioner’s Assistant at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and in legislative affairs at the Justice Department.  During 11 years on Capitol Hill, he was in-house counsel, legislative assistant and press aide for members of Congress. Luna served as Executive Director of the non-profit Greater Salisbury Committee, a business leaders’ group working to improve the quality of life in Eastern Shore communities.

Luna earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1987. He holds a bachelor of arts’ degree in government and politics with a minor in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

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