Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) (“Cal-Maine Foods” or the “Company”), the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States, has announced the appointment of Keira Lombardo as its first-ever Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), effective immediately. The creation of this new executive role marks an important milestone for the Company, signaling a sharpened focus on sustainable growth, strategic alignment, and deeper engagement with stakeholders across its value chain.
The appointment underscores Cal-Maine Foods’ intent to reinforce its leadership position in an evolving and competitive food marketplace. As Chief Strategy Officer, Lombardo will collaborate closely with the Company’s senior leadership team to accelerate enterprise priorities, foster innovation, and strengthen operational excellence. Her role will be central to shaping and executing strategies designed to deliver long-term value for shareholders, customers, employees, and the broader agricultural community.
A Strategic Role for a Transforming Marketplace
The decision to create the CSO position reflects the increasingly complex operating environment in which Cal-Maine Foods competes. Consumer expectations around food quality, sustainability, transparency, and affordability are shifting rapidly, while supply chain dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and technology adoption continue to evolve. In this context, Cal-Maine Foods recognizes the need for coordinated strategic leadership that aligns its business model with emerging trends and challenges.
As CSO, Lombardo will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Company’s strategic roadmap integrates both operational performance and purpose-driven commitments. Her responsibilities will span enterprise strategy development, stakeholder engagement, corporate affairs, public relations, and digital integration—creating a unified approach that connects internal priorities with external opportunities.
“Keira brings a rare combination of strategic discipline, stakeholder fluency, and food system insight to Cal-Maine Foods,” said Sherman Miller, president and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods. “Her leadership will support our ability to continue executing our long-term strategy and leverage our disciplined capital allocation into meaningful stakeholder returns. Working in partnership with our leadership team, she will help unlock new growth opportunities, navigate market complexity, and strengthen our performance in a dynamic environment.”
A Proven Leader in Food and Agriculture
Lombardo joins Cal-Maine Foods with more than two decades of leadership experience in the food and agriculture sectors, where she has consistently driven transformation and growth within complex, multi-stakeholder systems. Known for her performance-driven mindset grounded in a strong sense of purpose, Lombardo has built a reputation for balancing innovation with operational discipline.
Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Dairy MAX, a large-scale regional dairy organization representing approximately 700 farm families across eight U.S. states. During her tenure, she spearheaded the implementation of an ROI-focused operating model, restructured the organization for greater efficiency, and sharpened its strategic focus. Under her leadership, Dairy MAX successfully elevated dairy’s position as a smart, affordable, and sustainable nutritional choice—anchored in wellness, trust, and transparency.
Prior to Dairy MAX, Lombardo spent more than a decade in senior leadership roles at Smithfield Foods, one of the world’s largest pork processors and hog producers. While at Smithfield, she played a critical role in repositioning the company from a traditional commodity protein producer into a branded, purpose-driven consumer packaged goods (CPG) business. Her work spanned corporate affairs, people and culture, brand positioning, and stakeholder engagement, helping Smithfield build stronger connections with consumers, employees, and partners.
Driving Alignment Between Purpose and Performance
In her new role at Cal-Maine Foods, Lombardo will be tasked with ensuring that the Company’s purpose, performance, and culture operate in harmony. This includes creating strategic cohesion between operational goals and broader corporate commitments, such as sustainability initiatives, responsible sourcing, and community engagement. By integrating these elements, the Company aims to reinforce its reputation as both a market leader and a responsible corporate citizen.
“Cal-Maine Foods leads with scale and operational strength—and continues to evolve through innovation, discipline, and strategic focus,” Lombardo said. “I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team to build on that momentum and help drive long-term value across the business. Together, we will work to strengthen relationships, enhance operational efficiency, and identify new opportunities for growth that benefit all our stakeholders.”
Positioned for the Future
Cal-Maine Foods’ decision to create the CSO role reflects its forward-looking approach to growth and value creation. With operations spanning multiple states and a diverse customer base, the Company faces both opportunities and challenges in maintaining its market leadership. Issues such as changing consumer dietary preferences, advancements in agricultural technology, evolving animal welfare standards, and environmental considerations are reshaping the competitive landscape.
Lombardo’s expertise in navigating these dynamics is expected to be instrumental. Her track record of aligning corporate strategy with stakeholder needs positions her well to help Cal-Maine Foods respond proactively to market shifts while continuing to deliver high-quality products.
Furthermore, her experience in integrating communications, public affairs, and corporate strategy will help the Company engage more effectively with policymakers, industry groups, and the public. This holistic approach will be key to ensuring Cal-Maine Foods remains a trusted leader in the egg industry.
A New Chapter in Cal-Maine Foods’ Growth Story
The appointment of a Chief Strategy Officer comes at a time when the Company is investing in operational innovation and process optimization. By adding Lombardo to the executive leadership team, Cal-Maine Foods signals a commitment not only to operational excellence but also to strategic foresight.
The CSO position will serve as a bridge between the Company’s current strengths and its future ambitions—leveraging data-driven decision-making, emerging technologies, and stakeholder partnerships to enhance resilience and competitiveness.
As the food industry continues to evolve, Cal-Maine Foods’ focus on integrated strategic leadership will likely play a critical role in sustaining growth. Lombardo’s combination of agricultural expertise, corporate leadership experience, and passion for purpose-driven work makes her a strong addition to the team.
In an industry where adaptability and vision are paramount, her leadership is expected to help Cal-Maine Foods navigate the complexities of a changing marketplace while remaining true to its core values.
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