Keith Shoemaker, Butterball's president and CEO, has unexpectedly resigned from the company, effective April 25. No explanation was given for his departure, and a replacement has not been named, reports the Triangle Business Journal.

Until Shoemaker’s successor is named, members of Butterball’s board of directors will assume the chief executive responsibilities, says Walter Pelletier, president of Butterball LLC co-owner Maxwell Farms LLC and a member of Butterball’s board.

“Butterball thanks Mr. Shoemaker for his valuable service and for successfully guiding the company through last year’s change in ownership as well as his role in making the company what it is today,” Pelletier said in a statement.

Seaboard Corp. acquired a 50-percent stake in Butterball from Smithfield last December. Steven Bresky, president and CEO of Seaboard Corp., said that no other major changes to Butterball’s production or employment are expected.

“Butterball is a strong growing company with a bright future,” Bresky said in a statement. “It is business as usual.”

Source: Triangle Business Journal