Cargill names company veteran new CEO

Global food corporation Cargill has announced veteran company leader Brian Sikes as its new president and CEO.

Sikes, currently Cargill’s COO, has been with the Minnesota-headquartered company for 31 years. He will begin his new role Jan. 1.

As part of the leadership transition, Dave MacLennan, Cargill CEO since 2013, will assume the role of executive chair of the company’s board of directors.

“I am honored to succeed Dave as Cargill’s President and CEO,” Sikes said. “Under his visionary leadership, Cargill has a solid foundation, business model and culture that positions us for long-term success. Our 160,000 employees across Cargill are the best in the industry. Together, we will grow with customers, strengthen our core and thoughtfully target new markets to ensure we are a reliable, sustainable partner for our customers, today and in the future.”

Sikes will be the 10th CEO in the 157-year history of Cargill, with 160,000 employees in 70 countries providing food, agriculture, financial and industrial services to customers in more than 125 nations. He has held leadership roles in the U.S., Canada and Europe and served as the head of the company’s Talent Center of Expertise.

“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,” MacLennan said. “He’s a person of action and results, with a relentless passion for serving our customers and our people. Brian has the qualities we value in a strong leader—integrity, empathy, resilience and authenticity. Under his leadership, I am confident the best days for Cargill, and its greatest contributions, lie ahead.”

MacLennan joined the company in 1991 and served in multiple executive roles, including CFO and COO. He oversaw the largest acquisitions in the company’s history, including Croda (bioindustrials), EWOS (aquaculture), Diamond V (animal nutrition), and Sanderson and Wayne Farms (poultry).

Cargill also built expertise in alternative proteins and has developed technologies and digital solutions to transform farming, supply chains and food delivery during his tenure.