O:8:"stdClass":11:{s:7:"version";s:4:"1.11";s:10:"identifier";s:12:"post-1356659";s:8:"language";s:5:"en-US";s:5:"title";s:53:"Hormel Foods names its first chief technology officer";s:13:"documentStyle";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:15:"backgroundColor";s:7:"#fafafa";}s:6:"layout";O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:7:"columns";i:7;s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"margin";i:100;s:6:"gutter";i:20;}s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:6:"header";s:6:"layout";s:17:"headerPhotoLayout";s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:5:"photo";s:6:"layout";s:28:"headerPhotoLayoutWithCaption";s:3:"URL";s:60:"bundle://AdobeStock_530132012_Editorial_Use_Only-scaled.jpeg";s:7:"caption";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:4:"text";s:179:"Hormel Foods created the new chief technology officer role as the company steps up its focus on digital, data and technology modernization. | Image credit: piter2121 - Adobe Stock";s:9:"textStyle";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:8:"fontName";s:17:"AvenirNext-Italic";}}}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:179:"Hormel Foods created the new chief technology officer role as the company steps up its focus on digital, data and technology modernization. | Image credit: piter2121 - Adobe Stock";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:8:"fontName";s:17:"AvenirNext-Italic";s:8:"fontSize";i:16;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:24;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";}}}s:8:"behavior";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:4:"type";s:8:"parallax";s:6:"factor";d:0.8;}}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:9:"container";s:6:"layout";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:10:"columnSpan";i:7;s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:20:"ignoreDocumentMargin";b:1;}s:5:"style";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:15:"backgroundColor";s:7:"#fafafa";}s:10:"components";a:17:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:5:"title";s:4:"text";s:53:"Hormel Foods names its first chief technology officer";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:13:"default-title";s:6:"layout";s:12:"title-layout";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:6:"byline";s:4:"text";s:40:"By Mark Brohan | Feb 26, 2026 | 12:41 PM";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:14:"default-byline";s:6:"layout";s:13:"byline-layout";}i:2;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:128:"

Hormel Foods Corp. has named veteran food-industry technology executive Donald Monk as its first chief technology officer

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:16:"dropcapBodyStyle";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:3;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:344:"

The Austin, Minnesota-based packaged food make created the new executive role as the company steps up its focus on digital, data and technology modernization. In December, Hormel Foods created a chief marketing officer role.

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:4;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:241:"

Hormel Foods said Monk will assume the role March 23. As chief technology officer, he will serve as Hormel Foods’ senior-most leader, overseeing enterprise technology, digital platforms and data strategy to support long-term growth.

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:5;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:173:"

Monk will report to John Ghingo, president of Hormel. He said Monk’s leadership will be critical as Hormel continues to modernize its technology and data platforms.

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:6;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:285:"

The appointment reflects Hormel’s growing emphasis on ecommerce and data-driven operations as food manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve demand forecasting, supply chain visibility and customer engagement across retail, foodservice and direct-to-consumer channels.

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:7;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:414:"

Hormel has expanded its use of digital tools to support ecommerce and omnichannel selling. That includes data analytics for demand planning, digital marketing, and category management, as well as tighter integration with retailer and distributor ordering systems. The company has also been modernizing its enterprise platforms to better support pricing, promotions, and inventory management across channels.

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:8;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:187:"

Hormel Foods creates a chief marketing officer role

";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:9;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:8:"heading2";s:4:"text";s:51:"About the new Hormel Foods chief technology officer";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:17:"default-heading-2";s:6:"layout";s:16:"heading-layout-2";}i:10;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:282:"
Monk brings more than 35 years of global technology leadership experience to Hormel. He spent 33 years at General Mills. There, he served as chief information officer, leading global technology strategy, delivery and operations across the company’s international footprint.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:11;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:343:"
He later joined Cargill. His most recent there was serving as senior vice president of strategy, governance and transformation for its digital technology and data organization. In that role, Monk led global initiatives spanning technology governance, analytics and artificial intelligence, organizational design and financial oversight.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:12;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:243:"
At Hormel, Monk is expected to focus on aligning technology investments more closely with business priorities, strengthening data and analytics capabilities, and accelerating digital initiatives across the company’s global operations.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:13;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:194:"
Monk holds a master’s degree in software engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:14;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:164:"
Hormel Foods is a Fortune 500 company with operations in more than 80 countries and a portfolio of brands that includes Spam, Skippy, Jennie-O and Applegate.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:15;O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:4:"role";s:8:"heading2";s:4:"text";s:24:"Sign up";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:10:"identifier";s:35:"toc-item-article-post-id-1356610--3";s:9:"textStyle";s:17:"default-heading-2";s:6:"layout";s:16:"heading-layout-2";}i:16;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:919:"
Sign up for a complimentary subscription to Digital Commerce 360 B2B News. It covers technology and business trends in the growing B2B ecommerce industry. Contact Mark Brohan, senior vice president of B2B and Market Research, at mark@digitalcommerce360.com. Follow him on Twitter @markbrohan. Follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:16:"body-layout-last";}}}}s:19:"componentTextStyles";O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:16:"dropcapBodyStyle";O:8:"stdClass":10:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:18:"AvenirNext-Regular";s:8:"fontSize";i:18;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:24;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";s:9:"linkStyle";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#428bca";}s:22:"paragraphSpacingBefore";i:18;s:21:"paragraphSpacingAfter";i:18;s:12:"dropCapStyle";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:13:"numberOfLines";i:4;s:18:"numberOfCharacters";i:1;s:7:"padding";i:5;s:8:"fontName";s:15:"AvenirNext-Bold";s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";s:19:"numberOfRaisedLines";i:0;}}s:12:"default-body";O:8:"stdClass":9:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:18:"AvenirNext-Regular";s:8:"fontSize";i:18;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:24;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";s:9:"linkStyle";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#428bca";}s:22:"paragraphSpacingBefore";i:18;s:21:"paragraphSpacingAfter";i:18;}s:17:"default-heading-2";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:8:"fontName";s:15:"AvenirNext-Bold";s:8:"fontSize";i:32;s:10:"lineHeight";i:36;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#333333";s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"tracking";i:0;}s:13:"default-title";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:8:"fontName";s:15:"AvenirNext-Bold";s:8:"fontSize";i:48;s:10:"lineHeight";i:52;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#333333";s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";}s:14:"default-byline";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:17:"AvenirNext-Medium";s:8:"fontSize";i:13;s:10:"lineHeight";i:24;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#7c7c7c";}}s:10:"textStyles";O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:16:"default-tag-cite";O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:8:"fontName";s:17:"AvenirNext-Italic";s:8:"fontSize";i:16;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:24;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";}s:16:"default-tag-code";O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:8:"fontName";s:13:"Menlo-Regular";s:8:"fontSize";i:16;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:20;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";}s:15:"default-tag-pre";O:8:"stdClass":8:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:13:"Menlo-Regular";s:8:"fontSize";i:16;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:20;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";s:22:"paragraphSpacingBefore";i:18;s:21:"paragraphSpacingAfter";i:18;}s:16:"default-tag-samp";O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:8:"fontName";s:13:"Menlo-Regular";s:8:"fontSize";i:16;s:8:"tracking";i:0;s:10:"lineHeight";i:20;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#4f4f4f";}}s:16:"componentLayouts";O:8:"stdClass":8:{s:11:"body-layout";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:6;s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:3:"top";i:12;s:6:"bottom";i:12;}}s:16:"body-layout-last";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:6;s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:3:"top";i:12;s:6:"bottom";i:30;}}s:16:"heading-layout-2";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:6;s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:6:"bottom";i:15;s:3:"top";i:15;}}s:17:"headerPhotoLayout";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:20:"ignoreDocumentMargin";b:1;s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:7;}s:28:"headerPhotoLayoutWithCaption";O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:20:"ignoreDocumentMargin";b:1;s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:7;s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"bottom";i:24;}}s:26:"headerBelowTextPhotoLayout";O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:20:"ignoreDocumentMargin";b:1;s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:7;s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:3:"top";i:30;s:6:"bottom";i:0;}}s:12:"title-layout";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:3:"top";i:30;s:6:"bottom";i:0;}}s:13:"byline-layout";O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:3:"top";i:10;s:6:"bottom";i:10;}s:11:"columnStart";i:0;s:10:"columnSpan";i:7;}}s:8:"metadata";O:8:"stdClass":9:{s:12:"thumbnailURL";s:60:"bundle://AdobeStock_530132012_Editorial_Use_Only-scaled.jpeg";s:7:"authors";a:1:{i:0;s:11:"Mark Brohan";}s:11:"dateCreated";s:25:"2026-02-26T18:41:05+00:00";s:12:"dateModified";s:25:"2026-10-26T23:12:23+00:00";s:13:"datePublished";s:25:"2026-02-26T18:41:05+00:00";s:12:"canonicalURL";s:101:"https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2026/02/26/hormel-foods-names-first-chief-technology-officer-monk/";s:19:"generatorIdentifier";s:21:"publish-to-apple-news";s:13:"generatorName";s:21:"Publish To Apple News";s:16:"generatorVersion";s:5:"2.8.0";}}

Hormel Foods names its first chief technology officer

Want to read more? Unlock Free Strategy Membership