JBS USA CEO to retire, replacement named

GREELEY – JBS USA announced Wednesday that CEO Don Jackson will retire next year.

Andre Nogueira, former JBS USA chief financial officer and current CEO of JBS Australia, will replace Jackson effective Jan. 1.

Jackson gradually will cede his responsibilities to Nogueira, but will remain with the company in an advisory capacity and retain his seat on the board of Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Empowering communities

Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.

Jackson became CEO of JBS USA in January 2011 after serving as Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.’s CEO when JBS absorbed the chicken processor in 2010.

He started as Pilgrim’s CEO in January 2009 shortly after the company filed Chapter 11.

“Don Jackson is a proven leader with the essential skills and industry insight to position Pilgrim’s Pride to emerge from Chapter 11 as a stronger, more efficient and more focused company,” Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, one of the company’s founders who resigned earlier this year, said at the time.

Jackson successfully guided Pilgrim’s through bankruptcy, ultimately negotiating its sale to JBS USA and returning the chicken processor to profitability.

Jackson previously served in various executive roles at Foster Farms, ConAgra Poultry Co. and Seaboard Farms. A graduate of Arizona State University, Jackson earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from Colorado State University.

Nogueira has more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience in the United States and Brazil. He has worked at JBS for five years, four of which he served as JBS USA’s CFO.

He previously worked in banking, holding senior positions at Banco do Brasil in both the United States and Brazil.

In his new role as JBS USA CEO, Nogueira will maintain responsibility for all U.S. and Australia operations and will report directly to Wesley Batista, president and CEO of JBS global operations.

Under this new structure, Bill Rupp, in addition to his current role as president and COO of the JBS USA Beef, will assume leadership of the Australia business and report to Nogueira.

“I am excited to continue to work with our team to position JBS USA as the most efficient, preferred supplier for our customers,” Nogueira said in a statement from JBS. “Global consumption of animal protein has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade and JBS USA is well-positioned to meet increasing protein demand through its strategic global production and sales platforms.”

Nogueira takes the helm of the company as the industry faces grain market volatility, which JBS said in its last earnings report would lead to a “challenging scenario” for the U.S. chicken industry.

JBS USA, based in Greeley, is a subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., the largest meat processor in the world with 140 production facilities worldwide and more than 120,000 employees.

JBS is the largest employer in Greeley with 6,000 employees.