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John R. Tyson Arrested for DWI, Suspended from Tyson Foods CFO Role

June 14, 2024

This is the second alcohol-related arrest in two years for the fourth-generation Tyson family executive, who was assumed to eventually lead the company his great-grandfather founded.

Andy Hanacek

John R. Tyson, great-grandson of Tyson Foods founder John W. Tyson, has been suspended from his position as chief financial officer of the company after being arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) by Fayetteville, Ark., police. The 34-year-old also was charged with careless driving and making an illegal turn, according to reports.

Curt Calaway, who has been with Tyson Foods for 18 years, has been named interim chief financial officer by the company. Calaway most recently served as treasurer and senior vice president of finance and corporate development.

Tyson’s arrest is the second in two years, as he was charged in November 2022 with public intoxication and criminal trespassing after he allegedly entered a stranger’s home in Fayetteville and fell asleep in her bed. He pleaded guilty and settled the charges by paying fines and court fees.

John R. Tyson is the son of current Tyson Foods chairman John H. Tyson and a member of the fourth generation of the Tyson family on the company’s leadership team. His father and grandfather (Don Tyson) have held the company’s CEO position in the past. John R. Tyson was named CFO on Oct. 2, 2022.

He was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 15.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.