MINNEAPOLIS — Brian Sikes (pictured left) is the new president and CEO at Cargill, effective Jan. 1, and Dave MacLennan (pictured right) will assume the executive chair of the company’s board of directors.
Sikes will be the 10th CEO in Cargill’s 157-year history and brings a strong track record of business operational rigor to the role, having grown the company’s global protein and salt enterprise into an industry leader, the Minneapolis-based company said.
He currently serves as Cargill’s chief operating officer, where he has been instrumental in constructing the company’s long-term strategy, Cargill said.
“With broad experience across multiple businesses, cycles and geographies, Sikes held leadership roles in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and served as the head of the company’s Talent Center of Expertise,” Cargill said. “His relentless focus on people and culture, customers and proven expertise in leading growth and transformation have earned him the trust and respect of Cargill’s customers, employees and the board.”
MacLennan 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.
“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.”
Sikes will succeed MacLennan, who joined the company in 1991 and served in multiple executive roles, including chief financial officer and chief operating officer before becoming the company’s chairman and CEO in 2013.
Cargill, with 160,000 employees across 70 countries, connects farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. The company combines 157 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries.
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