US agri-food major Cargill has promoted Brian Sikes to president and CEO, effective from the start of next year.
Sikes, who is the agri-food group’s chief operating officer, will replace Dave MacLennan, who has been appointed executive chairman. MacLennan has served as chief executive since 2013 and previously occupied the CFO and COO positions at the meat and poultry supplier.
In a statement, Sikes, who has held leadership roles in the US, Canada and Europe, said he was “honoured to succeed Dave as Cargill’s president and CEO”, adding that “under his visionary leadership, Cargill has a solid foundation, business model and culture that positions us for long-term success”.
MacLennan, who oversaw the recent acquisition of Sanderson Farms in conjunction with Continental Grain Co., said: “As Cargill continues to navigate dynamic global markets, both operational excellence and a clearly articulated vision driven by purpose and values will define the company’s success, and there is no better person than Brian to lead Cargill.”
In his new role, MacLennan will “serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Sikes, the company and the board and support Cargill’s long-term strategic plan”.
The changeover will take place on 1 January.
Cargill finally completed the takeover of US poultry supplier Sanderson Farms in July in a US$4.5bn deal shared with investor Continental Grain Co. The acquisition was in the making for almost a year due to a review by the Department of Justice amid competition concerns.
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