Smithfield Foods names chief sustainability officer

SMITHFIELD, Va. Smithfield Foods announced that it has promoted Dennis Treacy to SVP corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer as part of the company's long-term focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Treacy joined Smithfield Foods in 2002 and last served as vice president, environmental and corporate affairs.

"Our business has become much more complex as we confront increasing government regulation and rising public and customer awareness of corporate social responsibility practices and sustainability. We understand that our long-term success directly correlates with our ability to effectively address these factors and that these programs must be managed from a senior level within our organization. The appointment of  Treacy to this new role demonstrates our continuing commitment to operate our company in a socially responsible and sustainable way," said Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer.

Prior to 2002, Treacy served as director of Virginia's department of environmental quality, held several positions in the private sector and also served as assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Virginia attorney general's office.