Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue Farms Inc., has announced the promotion of Randy Day to Chief Operating Officer of Perdue Farms, effective immediately.

“Randy’s more than 36 years of experience at Perdue Farms, including more than three decades on the Perdue Foods side of the company and five years with Perdue AgriBusiness, provide the foundation to guide our business as we work to fulfill our vision to be the most trusted name in food and agricultural products,” said Perdue. “Randy fully understands our heritage and values, the complexities of our business and the strategies for growth. As we approach our company’s 100th anniversary in 2020, I’m confident in Randy’s leadership and experience to guide us into the next century.”

Prior to his promotion, Day was president of Perdue Foods LLC, a post he was appointed to in February 2015. He joined Perdue Farms in 1980 and held various positions in distribution and sales before being named director of quality assurance and product development in 1992 and was promoted to vice president in 1993. In 1996, he was named vice president of quality assurance and logistics and was promoted to president and general manager of foodservice and prepared foods. There, he was responsible for further-processed turkey and foodservice operations, foodservice sales and marketing, business development and the division’s overall direction and focus.

In July 2008, Day became senior vice president of Perdue AgriBusiness LLC, where he was responsible for business development and strategic planning as well as management of Perdue BioEnergy LLC, and Perdue AgriRecycle LLC. In August 2013, Randy returned to the Foods business as senior vice president of sales and supply chain optimization. In May 2014, he was promoted to executive vice president of supply chain for Perdue Foods.

A native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Day graduated from Easton High School and received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College). He earned a master’s degree in poultry nutrition from the University of Maryland College Park and completed an advanced management program at Harvard Business School.

Day served on the Board of Directors of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, on the Executive Committee of the National Turkey Federation and on the Tech and Regulatory Committee of the National Chicken Council. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Chicken Council. In his community, he served on the board of the Mid-Atlantic YMCA and chaired the Secondary Education Advisory Committee for the Wicomico County Board of Education He is currently involved with the Wicomico County School Mentoring Project and serves as a member of the Council At Large of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce. 

Day and his wife, Debbie, have three children and two grandchildren, and live in Salisbury, Md.

Source: Perdue Farms