Jeffrey Ettinger

Jeffrey Ettinger is an American business executive and politician who served as the longtime chairman and chief executive officer of the multinational food processing corporation Hormel Foods. Under his leadership, the Austin, Minnesota-based company expanded its portfolio through major acquisitions like Applegate Farms and Justin's. In 2023, he was the Democratic nominee in a special election for Minnesota's 1st congressional district following the death of Representative Jim Hagedorn.

Early life and education

Jeffrey Ettinger was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1957. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued a legal education, earning a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Following law school, he began his professional career as an attorney at the international law firm Latham & Watkins, working in their Los Angeles office.

Career at Hormel Foods

Ettinger joined Hormel Foods in 1989 as assistant general counsel. He rose through the corporate ranks, holding significant leadership positions including president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store subsidiary and group vice president of Hormel's grocery products division. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2004, before being appointed chief executive officer in 2006 and chairman of the board in 2007. His tenure was marked by strategic diversification, overseeing the acquisitions of branded companies such as Applegate Farms, Justin's, and Columbus Craft Meats. He also navigated challenges like the 2007–2008 financial crisis and commodity price volatility. Ettinger retired from his executive roles at Hormel in 2016 and from the board of directors in 2017.

Post-Hormel career and public service

After retiring from Hormel Foods, Ettinger remained active in corporate governance and civic life. He served on the board of directors for UnitedHealth Group and the Minnesota Twins baseball organization. His community involvement included leadership roles with the University of Minnesota Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, and the Minnesota Business Partnership. He also taught as an executive fellow at the University of St. Thomas.

2023 U.S. House of Representatives election

Following the death of Republican Congressman Jim Hagedorn, Ettinger entered the special election for Minnesota's 1st congressional district as a Democratic candidate. He won the party's nomination at a special convention, defeating former Department of Agriculture official Richard Painter. In the general election, he faced Republican nominee and former state representative Brad Finstad, who had previously served in the United States Department of Agriculture under the Trump administration. The race attracted significant national attention and spending from groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Ettinger was defeated by Finstad in the August 2023 special election, though he outperformed typical Democratic results in the historically Republican-leaning district.

Personal life

Jeffrey Ettinger is married to Catherine Ettinger, and the couple has two adult children. They reside in Mankato, Minnesota. He is an active member of the local community and has been involved with various philanthropic and educational institutions across the state.

Category:1957 births Category:American chief executives Category:American businesspeople in retailing Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:People from St. Louis Category:Stanford University alumni Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni