Jeff Rowe, who leads Syngenta Group, has been named chief operating officer at Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. In that role, announced Monday, he will be responsible for ADM's commercial operations, manufacturing, and R&D, the firm stated.
Before his appointment at ADM, Rowe was CEO of Syngenta, a Swiss agricultural technology company, a role he took on in January 2024. Effective August 17, the move returns Rowe to the United States, where he assists in managing the family farm in Illinois.
Syngenta's chief communications and corporate affairs officer, Saswato Das, stated, "This is a great opportunity for Jeff. He leaves a strong team and legacy at Syngenta, and we wish him every success." Taking Rowe's place at Syngenta will be Hengde Qin, the company's current COO and head of its seeds segment, effective Aug. 1.
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Rowe departs Syngenta, a Chinese-owned business that has been pursuing a $5 billion Hong Kong IPO that has been postponed due to a tough agricultural market.
ADM is strengthening its leadership team in anticipation of more defined U.S. renewable fuel regulations and a revival of soybean exports to China, which should boost the farm sector, despite the Middle East conflict restricting access to fuel and fertilizer.
The firm has navigated a challenging phase after facing investigation into its accounting methods. Earlier this year, ADM resolved claims with the U.S. Department of Justice while neither admitting nor denying any misconduct.
The leadership change comes as Syngenta continues to navigate a complex IPO process amid depressed crop prices and global trade uncertainties. ADM, meanwhile, is positioning itself for a potential rebound in agricultural commodity markets, betting on policy shifts and improved trade relations. Rowe's experience running Syngenta during a difficult farm economy and his background as a farmer in Illinois give him a unique perspective on both the supply chain and the challenges facing producers.
ADM has been under pressure to revamp its leadership after a tumultuous period that included a Justice Department inquiry into its accounting practices. The resolution earlier this year, while costly, allowed the company to move forward without admitting fault. Meanwhile, Syngenta's delayed IPO, initially planned for 2024, has been held back by weak crop prices and trade tensions, making Rowe's departure a significant shift for the Chinese-owned firm as it seeks new leadership to navigate the listing.
Rowe's hands-on experience on his family's Illinois farm provides him with practical knowledge of the agricultural supply chain, a perspective ADM values as it seeks to strengthen ties with farmers. The company's strategic focus on renewable fuel regulations and soybean exports to China is expected to drive growth in the coming years.
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