BRANDON, MISS. — William T. Andersen has joined Gemstone Foods, L.L.C. as the company’s new president and chief executive officer. In his new position, Mr. Andersen will lead Gemstone in its efforts to build its business as a value-added supplier of poultry and other proteins.
Gemstone, which operates a processing facility at Decatur, Ala., offers custom portioned chicken breasts, chicken nuggets, chicken strips and tenderloin. In addition to de-boning, sizing and cutting, the company’s services include packaging, repacking and grading of fresh or frozen products.
Mr. Andersen most recently held the position of executive vice-president and president of USA Proteins at Keystone Foods, a global supplier of fresh and frozen animal proteins to consumer packaged foods and food service companies based in West Chester, Pa. At Keystone, Mr. Anderson oversaw a $2 billion beef, poultry, and fish products business.
Earlier, Mr. Andersen held the positions of senior vice-president of sales at Southeastern Mills, Inc., Rome, Ga.; vice-president of sales and marketing at Gold Kist Inc., in the Atlanta area; and complex engineer and plant manager at Tyson Foods, Inc., in Vicksburg, Miss.
Gemstone Foods, L.L.C. is a JAMAS Capital Management portfolio managed company.
“I am extremely pleased that Bill has joined Gemstone,” said Ben O. Turnage, central executive officer of JAMAS Capital Management, based in Jackson, Miss. “Clearly, Bill's leadership skills, knowledge and work ethic underscores our commitment to making Gemstone Foods a leading provider in the industry.”
Mr. Andersen graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and has a master of science in administration, business administration and management from Central Michigan State University.