Source: Eric Higgins, 785-532-6892, ehiggins@k-state.edu

Friday, April 30, 2010

K-STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE'S ADVISORY BOARD SELECTS TYSON FOOD EXECUTIVE AS OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE FOR 2010-2011

MANHATTAN -- An executive with Tyson Foods Inc. is the Kansas State University Finance Advisory Board's outstanding financial executive for 2010-2011.

Dennis Leatherby, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Tyson Foods, was honored April 23 at the advisory board's annual banquet.

Leatherby, who was named to his current position in 2008, oversees Tyson's worldwide finance and accounting functions, including representing the company on financial matters involving investors, auditors and financial regulatory entities. The company's corporate headquarters is in Springdale, Ark.

"Dennis has an outstanding record of accomplishment in the finance field and we are proud to honor him as this year's outstanding financial executive," said Eric Higgins, professor, von Waaden Chair of Investment Management and head of the department of finance at K-State.

A K-State alum, Leatherby has more than 26 years of finance experience, including more than 20 years with Tyson. He joined the company in 1990 as assistant treasurer after serving in the banking industry for seven years. He has had several other finance-related management positions with Tyson, including as senior vice president of finance, treasurer and as interim chief financial officer. He also has played an active role in Tyson acquisitions and has been a lead contact for the company with ratings agencies and banks.

A native of Overland Park, Leatherby earned degrees in finance and accounting from K-State in 1982.

The Finance Advisory Board, established in 1991 by the K-State's department of finance, consists of a select group of distinguished business, government and academic leaders. The purpose of the board is to advise the department on matters such as curriculum development and enhancement, graduate placement, workshop offerings and executive development, faculty development and external relations. The board also participates, along with the K-State chapter of the Financial Management Association National Honor Society, in the annual nomination and selection of the outstanding financial executive of the year.