Tyson Foods Names EVP of Corporate Affairs

Tyson Foods Inc., one of the world’s largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, has appointed Sara Lilygren its EVP of corporate affairs. Lilygren’s previous position at Tyson was SVP of external relations, a role she held for more than three years.

As well as managing external affairs in her latest role, Lilygren (left) heads the company’s charitable giving, which focuses on education and hunger relief.

In August 2002, Lilygren joined Tyson as director of federal government relations and ran the company’s Washington, D.C., office for seven years. She moved to Tyson’s Springdale, Ark., headquarters in 2009 to manage external relations, an area that encompasses the public relations, community relations and corporate communications departments.

Before coming to Tyson, Lilygren was a lobbyist and public relations practitioner for several food industry groups for 22 years.

Lilygren serves on boards or advisory councils for the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Arkansas World Trade Center, the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and the Walton Arts Center.