OAKWOOD, GA. — Kevin McDaniel has officially stepped into the role of president and chief executive officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, succeeding Clint Rivers, who will continue to serve as executive chairman of the board through the 2026 fiscal year.

“It is an honor to step into this new role, and I am excited to lead our exceptional team at Wayne-Sanderson Farms,” McDaniel said. “I look forward to building upon the strong foundation we have established and continuing our growth by fostering a positive culture for our employees, ensuring top-quality products and services for our customers, and maintaining strong relationships with our farm partners and the communities we serve.”

Most recently, McDaniel served as chief operating officer for the company, overseeing the fresh, retail and prepared foods business units, as well as leading the engineering and marketing functions. Within Wayne-Sanderson Farms, he has held various roles, including senior director of fresh operations and vice president and general manager of the fresh business unit. McDaniel brings previous industry experience from his time serving as president of Aviagen North America and in senior positions at OK Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.

Currently, McDaniel serves on the board of directors for the National Chicken Council and the US Poultry & Egg Association. He previously held key positions with The Poultry Federation, including chairman, and was named Industry Man of the Year by the organization in 2011.

McDaniel earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms first announced its CEO succession plan in October 2024.

“Having worked closely with Kevin over the last several years, I am confident that he is the perfect choice to lead Wayne-Sanderson Farms into this next chapter,” Rivers said at the time. “He brings a wealth of experience and vision to the role, and I look forward to supporting him through this transition.”