John R. Tyson, Tyson Foods CFO, Arrested for Suspected DWI in Fayetteville
Early Thursday morning, John R. Tyson, Chief Financial Officer of Tyson Foods, was arrested by University of Arkansas police on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and careless driving in Fayetteville.
Tyson, great-grandson of company founder John W. Tyson and son of board chairman John H. Tyson, has faced legal problems before. In November 2022, he was arrested on charges of public intoxication and criminal trespass after a woman found him asleep in her home near Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty and was ordered to pay 0 in fines and fees.
In addition to the DWI and careless driving charges, Tyson is also facing a charge for an improper turn. The 34-year-old CFO was booked into the Washington County Detention Center at around 1:30 a.m. and released at 10:41 a.m. after posting a ,105 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Tyson Foods has responded swiftly to the arrest, suspending Tyson from his duties effective immediately and naming Curt Calaway as interim Chief Financial Officer. Calaway is a senior vice president and treasurer who has been with the company since June 2006. This move comes after Tyson apologized for his previous arrest in the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on November 14, 2023, promising to learn from his mistakes.
Tyson has been with Tyson Foods since 2019. His rapid rise within the company culminated in his appointment as Chief Financial Officer in October 2023. His legal issues and subsequent suspension raise questions about the company’s leadership during this challenging period.
As the fallout from this arrest continues, it remains to be seen how Tyson Foods will navigate these circumstances moving forward.
