WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Bunge Limited announced two key management changes that will become effective May 1, 2014.
Raul Padilla, currently managing director, Bunge Global Agribusiness and CEO, Bunge Product Lines, will become CEO, Bunge Brazil, based in São Paulo, Brazil. Padilla joined Bunge in 1997 after a 20-year commercial career in Argentina and Switzerland. He served as CEO, Bunge Argentina from 1999 to 2010, when he assumed his current position. As CEO of Bunge Brazil, he replaces Pedro Parente, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
“As head of global agribusiness and, previously, our Argentine operations, Raul has led critical parts of Bunge’s business to record results," said Soren Schroder, CEO, Bunge Limited. “I am pleased that he will apply his unparalleled operational and commercial expertise in Brazil, which is Bunge’s largest country of operation and a vital part of our global value chains."
Brian Thomsen, currently managing director, Grains & Oilseeds Product Lines, will succeed Padilla as managing director, Bunge Global Agribusiness and CEO, Bunge Product Lines. He will be based in Geneva. Thomsen joined Bunge in 2004 as marketing director, International Grains. He has also served as product line director, Grains. Prior to Bunge, he worked in a variety of commercial and management roles at Cargill and Nidera.
“Brian has been an outstanding head of our grain and oilseed product lines and brings to his new position a 26-year track record of commercial success in the agribusiness industry," Schroder said. “I am confident that his strategic thinking and deep understanding of trade flows and customers will enable him to lead our global agribusiness operations to new heights."