Simons replaces Bill Toler, who joined AdvancePierre in 2008 as chief executive, company officials said. Toler announced internally this summer plans to take a new position with Oaktree Capital Management, the majority shareholder of AdvancePierre, spokeswoman Mary Patrick said.
Simons’ appointment is the result of a national search for Toler’s replacement, Patrick said.
The changes were effective Monday, she said.
AdvancePierre operates headquarter offices and a meat production plant employing more than 800 full- and part-time workers at 9990 Princeton Glendale Road.
The food manufacturing company makes fully cooked meat products and sandwiches that consumers buy at grocery stores, cafeterias and vending machines. It grew to more than $1.5 billion in revenues in 2011, ranking as the largest private company on the annual Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list.
A 2010 acquisition about doubled the size of the company. That was followed in June 2011 by another acquisition of Barber Foods in Maine, a maker of stuffed chicken, according to the company.
In addition to the West Chester Twp. facility, AdvancePierre operates another Ohio facility in Amherst that employs about 400 employees, according to Patrick.
In total, AdvancePierre Foods employs more than 3,200 people and operates protein-processing and sandwich assembly facilities in Oklahoma, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina, Patrick said.
Simons’ past experience includes positions as president and CEO of Swift & Company Inc., a $10 billion global red meat processing company; president and COO of several divisions of Conagra Foods Inc.; and past executive positions at Cargill Inc., according to AdvancePierre. Most recently, he founded Fir Hill Ventures, advising beef industry producers.
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