Pork processing giantSmithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield, Va., said hiredMichael Brownas president and chief operating officer ofFarmland Foods, Inc., effective October 4, 2010. Farmland is a packaged meats subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

Officials said Brown previously served as president of Armour-Eckrich, LLC since 2008 and has nearly 30 years of experience in the food industry. He will report to George H. Richter, president and chief operating officer of Smithfield's Pork Group.