ConAgra Foods Inc. announced Jim Hardy has joined ConAgra Foods as senior vice president of enterprise manufacturing, a new position for the company. Based at the company's headquarters in Omaha, Neb., Hardy will report to the chairman and chief executive officer and work to unite, reinforce and optimize the company's production-based assets.

Hardy brings a wealth of successful manufacturing experiences in the U.S. and abroad, including 15 years at Procter & Gamble, and participation in several systems’ implementations. Most recently at Clorox, from 2001 to present, he was part of the company's leadership committee and drove implementation of world-class manufacturing processes across a diverse array of products, from household products to food products. Hardy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida.

"Jim is a proven leader with strong experience in implementing manufacturing processes at top companies, in this country and abroad. Unifying under his leadership the manufacturing and engineering functions of business segments and operating groups across ConAgra Foods will create a single, coordinated enterprise team, and speed our progress toward operational excellence and efficiency," said Bruce Rohde, chairman and chief executive officer, ConAgra Foods.