SWITZERLAND – Swiss-based global company Syngenta has announced that ChemChina has appointed two additional Directors, bringing its Board to a total of ten members.
The appointments included that of Paul Fribourg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Grain Company as a Non-Executive Director and Erik Fyrwald, Chief Executive Officer of Syngenta an Executive Director.
According to the company, following the appointments, the Board comprises six ChemChina appointed Directors and four Independent Directors.
Paul has been CEO at Continental Grain since 1997 but had previously held senior management, commercial and commodity trading roles with the company in the United States and Europe beginning in 1976.
Paul also serves on the boards of Continental Grain Company, Estée Lauder, Restaurant Brands International and Apollo Global Management, LLC.
He holds a Bachelors’ Degree from Amherst College and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Erick joined Syngenta as CEO in June 2016 and prior to that, he served as CEO of Univar from 2012-2016 and CEO of Nalco from 2008-2012.
Prior to Nalco, Erik spent 27 years at DuPont, including 5 years as Group Vice President of DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition.
Erik also serves on the boards of Eli Lilly and Crop Life International and he is the Chairman of the Board of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.
“We welcome both Paul and Erik onto the Board of Directors.
Paul has spent his career in the agriculture and food sector and will help our connectivity through the food value chain.
Erik will strengthen the connection of the board to Syngenta’s Executive leaders,” said Syngenta Chairman, Gaoning (Frank) Ning.
This year, Syngenta appointed Alexandra Brand as Chief Sustainability Officer, a newly created role in its strive to achieve sustainable agricultural production.
The newly created Business Sustainability Group working under Brand was created to ensure sustainable agricultural production considering the company’s Regulatory Affairs, Sustainability and Stewardship, External Affairs and Communications activities.
ChemChina, Chinese state-owned chemical giant completed the 94.7% stake buyout in Syngenta for US$43 billion in 2017.
Syngenta sells its products in more than 90 countries under such brand names as Acuron, Axial, Beacon and Callisto and it sells seeds such as cereals, corn, rice, soybeans and vegetables.
