Perdue Foods has appointed Tyson Foods veteran Gregg Uecker to chief supply chain and operations officer, the Maryland-based meat and poultry processor said Tuesday.

In the newly-created position, Uecker will oversee all aspects of the Perdue Foods supply chain including live production, plant operations, transportation and warehousing, order fulfillment, food safety and procurement.

“Gregg’s depth of experience and understanding of operations and supply chain agility will help optimize our supply chain efficiencies to meet and exceed the unique needs of our customers and consumers, and drive sustainable growth for the company,” Kevin McAdams, CEO of parent company Perdue Farms, said in a statement.

Uecker most recently held positions at CJ Schwan’s, where he was executive vice president of global supply chain. Prior to that, he held multiple leadership roles across a 30-year career at Tyson.

Poultry producers are optimizing their supply chains to eke out savings as they navigate an unusually tough market environment. Tyson closed six chicken plants this year, and has revamped its supply chain as a way to save costs.

In addition to Uecker's appointment, Perdue also announced it promoted Julie Katigan to executive vice president and chief human resources officer.

Katigan, who joined the company in 2022, will oversee "people strategies that engage and develop talent, shape culture, and focus on associate well-being.”