Hormel Foods Corp. announced the advancements of Mark D. Vaupel, Swen Neufeldt and Jeffrey A. Grev. These advancements will become effective Oct. 28, 2014.

The advancements are:

• Vaupel, director of information technology services will advance to vice president of information technology services;
• Neufeldt, director of business development - Asia, general manager of China and vice president of Hormel Foods International, will advance to president of Asia Pacific, Hormel Foods International; and
• Grev, director of corporate development, will advance to director of legislative affairs.

“Congratulations to Mark, Swen and Jeff on their advancements,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “Throughout Mark’s tenure, he has inspired his team to align the IT strategy and resources with the overall Hormel Foods strategy and goals, and we look forward to his leadership in the fast-paced world of technology. Swen’s extensive international experience and regional presence will allow him to provide leadership and oversight to capitalize on synergies throughout this very important region. Jeff's deep understanding of the business makes him an excellent candidate to represent our interests while navigating the complexities of the legislative and regulatory processes.”

Vaupel began his career in 1996 as a computer analyst at the Corporate Office. In 2000, he became a senior computer analyst and in 2002 became the manager of information technology planning and strategy. He assumed his current role as director of information technology services in 2004. In his time as director, Vaupel has been instrumental in developing and implementing a number of information technology (IT) governance processes to ensure IT resources were focused on initiatives aligned with the overall Hormel Foods strategic objectives. Vaupel has identified the increasing risk associated with cyber security and took actions to mitigate them. This included organizing a team focused on cyber security, implementing risk mitigation processes, purchasing appropriate tools and technologies, and focusing on training and awareness. He has also played a key leadership role in the due diligence and successful integration of a number of acquisitions and joint ventures including Burke Marketing Corp., Farmer John, MegaMex Foods and Skippy Foods.

Neufeldt began his career in 1996 as a Grocery Products sales representative in Birmingham, Ala. and a year later became territory manager. That same year he became a Grocery Products category management specialist at the Corporate Office then became an associate product manager, Grocery Products. In 1999, he became a product and category development manager, International, at the Corporate Office. In 2002, he became senior product manager, International, in England and then general manager of Europe in 2005. In 2006, he came back to the Corporate Office to be a group product manager, Grocery Products, and in 2010, became the director of business development – Asia and vice president of International in Shanghai, China. A year later, he assumed his current role.

Grev began his career in 1984 in Grocery Products sales in Louisville, Ken. A year later, he became a sales representative for the Michigan territory and then for the New England territory. In 1987, he became the manager of sales services for Grocery Products at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.). In 1988, he became an associate product manager, Grocery Products and held several marketing positions until 1996, when he became a group product manager for Grocery Products. In 2006, he took on a special assignment to become the general manager of Valley Fresh Foods at the Corporate Office. He then became the corporate manager of mergers and acquisitions and assumed his current role in 2008.

Source: Hormel Foods Corp.