Simmons Foods Executive and Leadership Team

November, 2026

Leadership Overview

Simmons Foods has 8 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, administration, and product division management.

Focused on delivering high-quality poultry and animal nutrition, Simmons Foods maintains a commitment to excellence in manufacturing and supply chain integrity across the North American market.

Leadership Roles at Simmons Foods

  • Chief Executive Officer - Todd Simmons
  • Chief Operating Officer - David Jackson
  • President - Joel Sappenfield
  • President (Pet Food) - Jacob Rogers
  • President - Johnny Bullington
  • President - Derek Baucom
  • President - Scott Branthoover
  • Chief Administrative Officer - Russell Tooley
  • Todd Simmons - Chief Executive Officer

    Todd Simmons, the Chief Executive Officer at Simmons Foods, directs the overarching strategic vision for the organization. Overseeing the production of poultry and animal nutrition products, the Chief Executive Officer ensures alignment between manufacturing capabilities and market demand. This leadership role involves guiding long-term growth initiatives while maintaining the high standards expected of a major supplier in the food industry. By fostering innovation across all departments, Todd Simmons directly impacts the competitive positioning of the company. Ultimately, Simmons secures the financial health and operational sustainability of the enterprise, ensuring that the organization remains a leader in the food manufacturing sector through disciplined management and a focus on quality outcomes for customers throughout the United States.
    Todd Simmons

    David Jackson - Chief Operating Officer

    David Jackson, the Chief Operating Officer at Simmons Foods, manages the daily execution of manufacturing processes and supply chain logistics. Overseeing the complex infrastructure required to produce poultry and animal nutrition products, the Chief Operating Officer optimizes efficiency across all production facilities. This leadership role involves coordinating with department heads to streamline workflows and reduce operational waste. By implementing rigorous quality control measures, David Jackson directly impacts the reliability of the supply chain. Ultimately, Jackson maintains the operational excellence necessary to meet the high-volume demands of the food industry, ensuring that the company delivers consistent value to partners and clients while upholding the highest safety standards in every aspect of the manufacturing process.

    Joel Sappenfield - President

    Joel Sappenfield, the President at Simmons Foods, directs the strategic expansion of the poultry division. Overseeing market development and customer relationships, the President ensures that the company maintains a dominant position in the food manufacturing sector. This leadership role involves identifying new opportunities for growth and optimizing product distribution channels. By leveraging deep industry expertise, Joel Sappenfield directly impacts the revenue performance of the poultry business unit. Ultimately, Sappenfield drives the commercial success of the organization, ensuring that the company meets the evolving needs of the market while maintaining the high quality and reliability that define the brand in the competitive landscape of food and animal nutrition production.

    Jacob Rogers - President (Pet Food)

    Jacob Rogers, the President (Pet Food) at Simmons Foods, manages the specialized production and market strategy for the pet nutrition division. Overseeing product innovation and manufacturing standards for pet food, the President (Pet Food) ensures that the company delivers superior nutritional solutions to the market. This leadership role involves coordinating with research and development teams to create high-quality products that meet stringent industry requirements. By focusing on the unique demands of the pet food sector, Jacob Rogers directly impacts the growth of this critical business unit. Ultimately, Rogers secures the reputation of the company as a premier supplier in the animal nutrition space, ensuring that all products align with the core mission of providing safe and effective nutrition for pets.

    Johnny Bullington - President

    Johnny Bullington, the President at Simmons Foods, leads the strategic initiatives for the animal nutrition division. Overseeing the development of specialized feed products, the President ensures that the company provides high-value solutions to the agricultural sector. This leadership role involves managing the technical aspects of production and ensuring that all animal nutrition products meet rigorous quality standards. By focusing on the specific needs of livestock producers, Johnny Bullington directly impacts the market reach of the animal nutrition business. Ultimately, Bullington drives the operational success of this division, ensuring that the company remains a trusted partner for farmers and producers by delivering consistent, high-quality nutrition products that support the health and productivity of animals across the region.

    Derek Baucom - President

    Derek Baucom, the President at Simmons Foods, directs the strategic operations for the poultry processing division. Overseeing the conversion of raw materials into finished food products, the President ensures that the company maintains high throughput and quality standards. This leadership role involves managing the integration of new technologies into the processing workflow to enhance efficiency. By focusing on the technical aspects of poultry manufacturing, Derek Baucom directly impacts the output capacity of the organization. Ultimately, Baucom secures the competitive advantage of the company in the food manufacturing market, ensuring that all processing activities align with the broader corporate goals of delivering high-quality poultry products to a diverse and demanding customer base.

    Scott Branthoover - President

    Scott Branthoover, the President at Simmons Foods, manages the strategic sales and distribution networks for the company. Overseeing the relationships with major retail and wholesale partners, the President ensures that the company effectively reaches its target markets. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends and adjusting distribution strategies to maximize product availability. By optimizing the sales funnel and customer engagement, Scott Branthoover directly impacts the market penetration of the company. Ultimately, Branthoover drives the commercial growth of the organization, ensuring that the company maintains strong connections with its customer base and continues to expand its footprint in the food and animal nutrition industries through effective sales management and strategic market positioning.

    Russell Tooley - Chief Administrative Officer

    Russell Tooley, the Chief Administrative Officer at Simmons Foods, governs the internal corporate functions that support the broader manufacturing mission. Overseeing human resources, legal compliance, and organizational development, the Chief Administrative Officer ensures that the company maintains a robust framework for growth. This leadership role involves aligning administrative policies with the strategic goals of the poultry and animal nutrition divisions. By fostering a culture of accountability and professional development, Russell Tooley directly impacts the internal efficiency of the organization. Ultimately, Tooley provides the structural foundation required for the company to scale operations effectively, ensuring that all administrative processes support the long-term objectives of the business while maintaining strict adherence to industry regulations and corporate governance standards.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Simmons Foods Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Simmons Foods?
    Simmons Foods is led by Todd Simmons (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as David Jackson (Chief Operating Officer) and Joel Sappenfield (President).
    Who is part of Simmons Foods’s executive team?
    The executive team of Simmons Foods includes leaders such as Todd Simmons (Chief Executive Officer), David Jackson (Chief Operating Officer), Joel Sappenfield (President) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Simmons Foods have?
    Simmons Foods has 8 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Simmons Foods’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Simmons Foods includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President, President (Pet Food), President.