Leland Tollett

Leland E. Tollett is Interim President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tyson Foods, Inc. and oversees all operations and sales for the company.

While Tollett was named to his current position in January 2009, he has actually been associated with Tyson Foods for 50 years and previously served as the company’s CEO from 1991 to 1998.

Tollett joined Tyson in 1959 as Director of Research & Nutrition and subsequently held executive management positions in the company’s broiler and production divisions before being named Tyson’s Chief Operating Officer in 1981. Tollett became President and CEO in 1991 and served as Chairman and CEO from 1995 to 1998, when he retired.

Tollett served on Tyson’s board of directors from 1984 until early 2008. He has also been a member of the Poultry Science Association, the Arkansas Poultry Federation and has served as President of the Arkansas Feed Manufacturers Association, as well Chairman of the National Broiler Council (now known as the National Chicken Council).

A native of Nashville, Arkansas, Tollett attended Southern State College (now known as Southern Arkansas University), and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He has also participated in seminars at the Harvest Business School.