Syngenta Appoints Jeff Rowe as CEO

The Board of Directors of Syngenta Group has announced the appointment of Jeff Rowe as the Chief Executive Officer of Syngenta Group, effective from January 1, 2024. Jeff Rowe currently holds the position of President of Syngenta Crop Protection, which is Syngenta Group’s largest business unit. Previously, he served as the President of Syngenta Seeds, where he successfully led a turnaround of the Seeds business. Erik Fyrwald, the current CEO of Syngenta Group, will continue to serve as CEO until the end of the year, after which he will retire. Fyrwald will remain as an Advisor to the Chairman of Syngenta Group and will retain his position on the Board of Directors.

Syngenta Group stands as one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, with a history spanning over 250 years. The company has more than 59,000 employees operating in over 100 countries.

Jeff Rowe, 50 years old, initially joined Syngenta as the President of Syngenta Seeds and North America in September 2016. Before taking on his current role as the head of the crop protection business, he played a key role in turning around the Seeds business, achieving significant growth and profitability. He has also been a driving force behind Syngenta Group’s initiatives in regenerative agriculture and soil health. Prior to his tenure at Syngenta, Jeff held various leadership positions at DuPont Pioneer over a 20-year period.

The decision to appoint Rowe as the new CEO was based on his extensive experience in the agriculture sector, spanning nearly 30 years, and his unique perspective as a fifth-generation farmer. He possesses firsthand knowledge of the challenges and concerns faced by modern farmers and is deeply committed to promoting innovation and sustainability in global agriculture.

Jeff Rowe will take over from Erik Fyrwald, who is 64 years old and has been the CEO of Syngenta since June 2016. During his leadership, Fyrwald oversaw the acquisition by ChemChina, the formation of Syngenta Group, and significant growth, with the company’s revenue increasing from $12.8 billion in 2016 to $33.4 billion in 2022. Fyrwald’s advocacy has firmly established Syngenta Group as a prominent voice in the agricultural sector, advocating for global food security, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture.

Li Fanrong, Chairman of Syngenta Group, praised Erik’s exceptional leadership, which guided the company through challenges such as the global pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and transformations. The Chairman expressed gratitude for Erik’s dynamic leadership during this transitional period and highlighted the seamless succession process. Jeff was identified as the right leader to carry Syngenta Group forward, building on the strong foundation established by Erik. The Board of Directors commended the planned succession process and recognized Jeff’s leadership qualities, business acumen, operational skills, and strategic vision as essential attributes for guiding Syngenta Group in this critical industry.

Erik Fyrwald also expressed his satisfaction with Jeff’s appointment, emphasizing Jeff’s operational prowess and strategic thinking in delivering results and building a sustainable future for the company.

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