ADM announces management appointments

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced several management appointments.

“To accelerate the execution of our strategic plans, we need teams that can quickly flex and form to identify and capture opportunities, focus on what matters, deliver results, and then re-form to address the next set of opportunities. To that end, I have formed some new teams and expanded the responsibilities of some key leaders,” said ADM CEO Juan Luciano.

Ray Young has been named executive vice president; he remains the company’s chief financial officer and will add responsibility for oversight of ADM’s business in Asia. “Ray’s exceptional insight into the region will allow him to assist Ismael Roig, the president of ADM Asia-Pacific, and our other regional leaders as they accelerate our Asia strategy,” said Luciano.

Mark Bemis, senior vice president, will become president, North America, and chair a new Geographic Council that brings together ADM’s regional presidents to ensure the company is leveraging best practices across each geography. Luciano said, “Our geography leaders will help our businesses achieve strong P/L performance by providing them with efficient regional SG&A cost positions—through optimal organizational design—and by presenting good growth opportunities for business consideration. As president, North America, Mark will be responsible for finding new pockets of growth in the U.S. and expanding our presence in Mexico and Canada. Mark has just led our Corn team to some of its highest performance on record and, with his deep knowledge of the company’s businesses and operations, he is uniquely suited to perform these roles.”

Chris Cuddy will become president of ADM’s Corn Processing business unit. Luciano said: “Chris has a great track record of success within Corn, with the vision and initiative to take on challenges and deliver results. Mark and Chris have been a strong team, and I know they will work together very successfully to accomplish a smooth transition.”

Todd Werpy will take on an expanded role as chief technology officer. “Todd will expand his work to ensure that technology delivers cost improvements and competitive advantage, and that we deliver on the strong pipeline of improvement projects. As chief technology officer, he will also ensure we have the right focus and resources to support the rejuvenation of our product mix through product innovations across our value chain—a key driver of organic growth,” said Luciano.

Vikram Luthar has been named senior vice president, Strategy. Luciano explained, “In this role, Vikram will help control and advance the execution of our corporate strategy; lead the process of corporate strategic and resource allocation planning; and enhance the company’s competitive intelligence and analysis of relevant market trends and potential disruptive technologies.

“I am confident that we have the best team and the best set of opportunities in our industry, and I’m counting on these leaders to quickly mobilize teams and step up to seize our opportunities,” added Luciano.

About Young

Ray G. Young is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Archer Daniels Midland Company, and an officer of the corporation. In his role, he oversees the company’s treasury, tax, accounting, investor relations, financial planning, business development and information technology functions as well as the captive insurance and ADM Investor Services organizations. Young is also responsible for oversight of ADM’s business in Asia.

Young joined ADM in 2010 following a 24-year tenure with General Motors Co., during which he held executive leadership positions in finance, general management, planning and operations on four continents. Young served in Shanghai as vice president of GM International Operations, which is responsible for GM’s emerging-market operations. Earlier, he was the CFO of General Motors during 2008 and 2009, when the company went through a significant operational and financial restructuring. Between 2004 and 2007, Young was the president and managing director of GM do Brasil and Mercosur Operations, based in São Paulo.

His tenure with GM also included serving as the company’s North America vice president of finance; executive-in-charge of Suzuki global alliance in Hamamatsu, Japan; regional European treasurer in Brussels; and director of capital markets and foreign exchange in New York.

Young graduated in 1984 from The Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, Canada, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Young is a member of the board of directors of International Paper Company. He also serves on the board of directors of the U.S.-China Business Council, and he actively participates in various CFO groups around the country.

About Bemis

Mark A. Bemis is senior vice president and president, North America, and an officer of the corporation.

Bemis also serves as ADM’s safety champion; as such, he helps to lead the company’s efforts to build and maintain a strong safety culture.

Previously, Bemis was president of ADM’s Corn Processing business unit. Before that, Bemis served as president of ADM’s Cocoa, Milling, and Financial Services businesses; earlier, he was vice president and general manager for ADM Cocoa North America. In addition, he has held various merchandising and management positions in the company’s Agricultural Services, Malt, Corn Processing, and Oilseeds Processing businesses since joining ADM in 1983. He became a vice president of the company in 2005, and a senior vice president in 2010. Bemis was chairman of ADM’s Sustainability Steering Committee from 2007 to 2010, a period in which the company made significant progress in its three principal sustainability focus areas: supply chain integrity, water-resource management, and energy and climate change.

Bemis serves on the boards of the Corn Refiners Association; Red Star Yeast Company LLC; Eaststarch C.V.; and Almidones Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois.

About Cuddy

Christopher M. Cuddy is president of ADM’s Corn Processing business unit.

Previously, Cuddy served as president, Sweeteners and Starches, in ADM’s Corn Processing business unit. In that role, he was responsible for all commercial activities of the company’s North American sweetener, starch, fiber and acidulant businesses.

Cuddy joined ADM in 1998 and has held a variety of merchandising and management roles prior to leading the sweeteners and starches group, including president, Almidones Mexicanos, SA de CV (Almex), an ADM joint venture based in Guadalajara, Mexico. Before that, Cuddy was vice president, ADM Corn Processing, managing the commercial activities of ADM’s corn wet milling business, including sales, marketing, and distribution of corn-based sweeteners and sugar. From 2000 to 2004, Cuddy served as North American sales manager, ADM BioProducts. He began his career with the company as a senior commodity trader with ADM Grain.

Cuddy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He serves on the boards of the Corn Refiners Association and Red Star Yeast Company LLC, an ADM joint venture. He is also a board member of the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross.

About Werpy

Dr. Todd Werpy is senior vice president and chief technology officer.

Previously, Werpy served as ADM’s senior vice president, Research & Development. In that role, he had responsibility for all corporate research and development functions, including overseeing ADM’s efforts to expand its product portfolio and strengthening research partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions and corporations.

Prior to joining ADM in 2007, Werpy spent 15 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he was responsible for research and business development for new chemicals and chemical intermediates from renewable feedstocks.

Werpy developed the catalytic technology being commercialized by ADM for the conversion of glycerin and sorbitol to propylene glycol. He holds 30 US patents in the area of catalysis and chemical conversion of biomass to chemicals. Werpy was selected as the recipient of the 2015 American Chemical Society Award for Affordable Green Chemistry.

Werpy holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Southwest Minnesota State University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Michigan State University.

About Luthar

Vikram Luthar is ADM’s senior vice president, Strategy; chief financial officer for the company’s Corn business unit, and an officer of the corporation.

Previously, Luthar served as ADM’s group vice president, Finance, with oversight of ADM’s global treasury and credit operations.

Luthar joined ADM in 2004 as vice president and treasurer. Prior to that, he spent 11 years with General Motors Co., serving in various treasury and corporate finance positions in the United States and Asia.

Luthar holds a bachelor’s of technology in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.