Shelby drives the global business and performance of Cobb. With a strategic focus on innovation, he ensures our genetics company efficiently feeds the world through groundbreaking genetic advancements. Under his leadership, the company supplies broiler breeding stock to more than 120 countries and impacts more than 30% of all chickens consumed worldwide. He leads a diverse and dynamic team in integrating genetics, animal health and cutting-edge technology to create value throughout the entire food chain.

He leads 4,000 team members focused on new product development to provide reliable genetics that help fill the increasing need for chicken as it becomes the predominant meat consumed globally. By bringing together value added solutions proven in data and customer partnerships, his team is able to deliver this progress at unprecedented scale in the industry.

Shelby brings over 30 years of comprehensive industry knowledge to his executive role. Prior to joining Cobb, he spent nearly two and a half decades with Tyson Foods, serving in all aspects of Live Production, Facility Infrastructure and Innovation, Processing, and Product Development. Most recently, as Senior Vice President Live Operations, he successfully led operational and growth strategies in all areas of poultry live production. Shelby’s approach to business reflects his innovative mindset, commitment to sustainable practices and application of top-tier biological security measures.

He currently serves on the Arkansas Poultry Federation 2024-2025 Board of Directors.

Shelby graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in Poultry Science.

Dr. Herring leads the global discovery efforts to accelerate genetic progress and introduce it at scale in over 100 countries. He develops our genetic improvement strategies by building upon over a century’s worth of data and genetic advancement, his daily effort amplifies the availability of the world’s fastest growing protein.  He leads a team of scientists, engineers and innovators focused on the need to produce food utilizing traits that maximize the efficient conversion of genetics to useable food while combining the best science and technology available to make it happen. He is instrumental in helping develop our first of its kind Proving Grounds which is a step change in terms of predicting our genetics at scale reliably for customers. William joined Cobb in 2022.

William has over 30 plus years of experience and leadership in livestock and poultry genetic improvement. Prior to joining Cobb, William held roles at PIC, a genetic improvement company as well as roles within the genetics team at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis).

William obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Auburn University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Georgia. 

In his spare time, he enjoys helping with the genetic improvement program at this family’s beef operation.

Roy leads diverse, far-reaching commercial businesses across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. His responsibilities include managing our business across a wide array of commercial set-ups and customer types. He works to tailor our offering for the unique needs of his customers.

Roy joined Cobb in 1995. In his tenure with Cobb, Roy has held various roles in the UK and USA with responsibilities spanning across commercial, Laboratories, Quality Assurance, Animal Welfare.

Born and raised on a farm in England, Roy began his career with the UK Government Veterinary Investigation Service in 1981, completing his bachelor’s degree in Applied Microbiology in the UK.

Roy enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and getting out into the great outdoors.

Chris’s responsibilities include managing financial planning and budgeting processes across our global operation to ensure alignment with the company's vision and objectives, preparing and presenting financial reports, statements. He provides strategic advice and guidance to other senior leaders on financial matters like growth strategies, capital allocation, cost reduction, and profitability across our global markets. Additionally, he leads our market financial statutory reporting requirements for Cobb.

Chris returned to Cobb in 2022 from Tyson. With over 33 years of experience in the poultry industry, he comes to Cobb from Tyson where he held various roles of increasing responsibility including Divisional Operations Controller and Sr. Business Unit Controller. Chris began his career in the poultry industry with Cargill, Inc. 

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.

Chris and his wife enjoy spending time with their four children and golfing.

Kendall leads a team that is responsible for planning, implementing and managing the overall use of information technologies within Cobb. His team ensures the proper systems, support and security our company. His responsibilities also include organizing our data, which is a unique opportunity to truly maximize information flow end-to end. Additionally, the global footprint of Cobb is extensive and he ensures our facilities are ready with the environment and equipment necessary to ensure the continuity of our operations, most of which have constant operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Kendall joined Cobb in 2007. Prior to Cobb, Kendall held roles at Tyson Foods where he joined in 1999. With over 37 years of experience in the computer industry, he has been in the poultry industry for 25 years. Prior to joining Tyson, Kendall started his career as a computer operator in the United States Air Force. After leaving the Air Force he worked as a computer operator, programmer/analyst, programming consultant, and IT department manager for companies located in Oklahoma, Arizona and Arkansas.

He received management information systems training from the Community College of the Air Force and achieved an AAS degree in Computer Science from Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Kendall has been married to his wife for 39 years, has two grown children and four grandchildren.

Billy leads Cobb on all manners of legal issues both domestically and internationally and is known for his ability to connect business strategies. He has over fifteen years of legal experience as a dedicated team-first business attorney with a broad range of experience in risk analysis, negotiations, commercial transactions, ethics and compliance, corporate governance, litigation and administrative management.

Billy joined Cobb in 2018. Billy obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas. Prior to settling down to his legal career in corporate America, Billy was a professional basketball player in Denmark for two years and in Lebanon for six years.

In his spare time, he enjoys coaching his children’s youth sports and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Ray is responsible for all activities related to poultry live production in North America. One of the most dynamic portions of our business, his organization includes farm, hatchery operations, nutrition, feed milling, and transportation. Ray’s team has influence across the entire genetic pipeline ranging from pedigree, GGP, and GP production. He has over 32 years of poultry experience and is known for high performance. The team’s ability to produce and grow quality, saleable live product is the lifeblood of our company and industry. He is instrumental in helping develop our first of its kind Proving Grounds which is a step change in terms of predicting our genetics at scale reliably for customers. Ray joined Cobb in July 2022.

Prior to joining Cobb he had most recently served as Complex Manager for Tyson Foods, Mississippi Live Operations. Before that he had served in numerous leadership roles in Arkansas and Alabama. Throughout his career, Ray achieved strong business results while demonstrating servant leadership and ensuring the safety of the people under his care. He has served on numerous boards and industry associations, as well as leading corporate efforts to support global non-profits such as World Vision, ASAP and OneEgg to help communities find ways to utilize chickens and eggs to improve lives.

Ray is a graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Poultry Science. 

He and his wife Jennifer of 30 years have two adult children.

Dr. Shepherd leads our Quality Care team, which is comprised of our global Quality Assurance, Veterinary Services and Laboratory teams. As our lead veterinarian, he sets our global health programs, oversees domestic and global quality assurance policies and animal welfare compliance. Also under his leadership are our Veterinary Services and Laboratory Services teams, which are known for their attention to detail and high quality standards. He also leads our rigorous biosecurity program which protects our ability to meet our customer’s demands for high quality, trusted protein.

Gene joined Cobb in 2014. He joined Cobb as an internal veterinarian responsible for bird health at our production facilities in the eastern U.S. and was promoted to his current role in 2017. Prior to joining Cobb, Gene spent three years with Genus PIC, a swine primary breeder, where he was Manager of Health Assurance.

Gene holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, both from Oklahoma State University.

Gene and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy spending time with their children and traveling.

Bernardo is the commercial leader of our Latin America business and is responsible for driving business with a team across Latin America and Canada. His region includes our biggest international market, Brazil, where Cobb has leading marketing share and its biggest footprint outside of the United States. His area includes a mix of other established and emerging markets within our industry with significant growth opportunities.

Bernardo joined Cobb in 2016. Most recently, he served as our technical leader in South America. He has broad experience spanning across multiple leadership roles with international scope within Cobb as well as previous company experience across live production, sales, technical leadership, nutrition, and veterinarian services with Tyson, BRF, Cargill and Globoaves. He started his career with Tyson in 2011 as a Live Production Director.

Bernardo is a Brazilian native and poultry veterinarian, with a Veterinarian degree from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul as well as MBA’s in General Business, Finance and Controlling and People Management.

In his spare time, Bernardo enjoys spending time with his family, eating barbeque and watching the Gremio soccer team.

Marcela leads our global Human Resources team, ensuring that our team member strategy aligns with our global business objectives for our more than 4,000 employees. With expertise in labor relations, union contract negotiations, M&A, and divestitures, her diverse skillset drives strategic HR initiatives and supports Cobb’s global goals.

Marcela joined Cobb in 2024 after holding various leadership roles at Tyson Foods since 1996. With over 25 years of HR experience, she possesses a deep understanding of industry practices and a proven track record of delivering results.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Marcela moved to Jalisco, Mexico at 13 years old and returned to the United States at age 18. Since 1995, she has called Northwest Arkansas home. Marcela is a proud parent of three children and enjoys spending time outdoors.