Cargill appoints Paulo Sousa as its president in Brazil

US commodity trader Cargill Inc. said on Wednesday that Paulo Sousa will lead the company’s operations in Brazil, taking over the presidency on December 16, while Luiz Pretti prepares to resign.

Sousa will also retain his position as head of Cargill’s South American agricultural commodities division, which he has led since 2016, the company said.

Pretti has served as president of Cargill in Brazil for the past eight years, according to a company statement. He has worked at the company for 15 years.

The largest US private company, Cargill, posted in July a 41% drop in quarterly earnings, citing disruptions in the US-China trade war and floods in the Midwest that affected its grain and livestock business.

At the origination and processing unit, Cargill’s South American operations posted higher profits over the previous year, with improvements in Brazil’s corn and soybean business, the Minneapolis-based company said in its earnings report.

Sousa joined Cargill in 1990 and worked for various businesses. According to the company’s statement, he established Cargill’s Brazilian logistics management group and led the areas of grain origination and risk management.

Last year, Cargill shipped 10.9m tons of soybeans out of Brazil, according to shipping agency Cargonave, becoming the country’s leading oilseed exporter, behind rival Bunge and ahead of Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Cargill said Pretti will continue to operate outside the company in Brazil, as chairman of Amcham Brasil and as a board member of Alvean Sugar SL, a commercial joint venture between Cargill and Copersucar SA.

Source: Reuters

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