Doug Ramsey, the COO of Beyond Meat, has left the company after he was arrested for allegedly biting a man’s nose after a college football game in Arkansas.
Ramsey had been suspended indefinitely by the company after he was charged with felony battery for his alleged role in the altercation.
He was also charged with making a terroristic threat after the attack on Sept. 17 in Fayetteville.
According to a police report, Ramsey was angered when another driver inched in front of him in a traffic lane and made contact with the front passenger wheel on Ramsey’s Ford Bronco SUV.
The police report alleges that Ramsey got out of his vehicle and punched through the back windshield of the other driver’s car.
The driver told police he got out of his car and Ramsey pulled him close and began punching him.
Ramsey also bit the tip of the other driver’s nose, ripping the flesh, according to the police report.
The driver and witnesses told police that Ramsey threatened to kill the other man. Occupants of both vehicles got out and separated the two men.
Washington County court records show Ramsey was released Sunday on a $11,085 bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 19. Court officials were unable to provide the name of an attorney for Ramsey on Tuesday.
Ramsey, 53, spent more than 30 years at Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods before joining Beyond Meat as chief operating officer late last year.
He held top leadership positions at Tyson, including president of its poultry division and president of its global McDonald’s business.
At Beyond Meat, he has guided partnerships with fast food companies including McDonald’s, Panda Express and KFC.
Beyond Meat said Jonathan Nelson, its senior vice president for manufacturing operations, will oversee the company’s operations on an interim basis.
Beyond Meat shares closed at a 52-week low of $14.78 on Thursday. The company’s shares have tumbled more than 75% since the start of this year.
The El Segundo, California-based company has struggled as customers dealing with soaring grocery bills have bypassed its higher-priced products.
McDonald’s also recently ended a US trial of its McPlant meatless burger — developed with Beyond Meat — without confirming future plans for the product.
Ramsey’s departure comes as Beyond Meat slashes 200 jobs or 19% of its global workforce, the company said on Friday.
The struggling fake meat company also reduced its revenue outlook for the rest of the year to $82 million representing a 23% decline compared to the same period last year.
The company also expects its full year revenues to decline by between 9% and 14% to between $400 million and $425 million. Beyond Meat had previously expected to post sales of up to $520 million this year.
The company says it’s been “negatively impacted by ongoing softness in the plant-based meat category overall,” and by “increased competition.” Consumers are also trading down to cheaper forms of protein, the company said.
It also blamed “decisions made by distributors” to delay or cancel promotions.
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