Viterra announces global operating model

Viterra operates on four continents, markets to over 50 countries, with over 6,000 employees and believes that a strong, functionally aligned organizational structure is a key foundation to business excellence.

 

As the company continues to grow, it will be implementing a new global operating model to strengthen and support its strategic vision now and in the future.

 

Viterra is formalizing its global structure around its three global business lines including Grain, Agri- Products and Processing to capitalize and drive value through its integrated worldwide pipeline.

 

The following executives will lead these lines of business and the organization changes are effective immediately:

1) Fran Malecha remains Chief Operating Officer – Grain. Malecha is responsible for Viterra’s global grain and oilseed businesses. In addition, he is charged with executing internal and external growth initiatives that expand Viterra’s international grains and oilseeds. Malecha has over 25 years experience with a distinguished record in domestic and international trade.

 

2) Doug Wonnacott is appointed Chief Operating Officer – Agri-Products Groups. Wonnacott is responsible for the growth, expansion and diversification of Viterra’s global agri-products portfolio, which includes research and development, seed, crop protection products, fertilizer, equipment and wool. Wonnacott has 30 years of international experience in the chemicals industry.

 

3) Karl Gerrand is appointed Chief Operating Officer – Processing. Gerrand is responsible for all of Viterra’s processing operations globally including wheat and oat milling, malt, pasta, oilseed crushing and feed manufacturing. Gerrand with 23 years of experience has led many of Viterra’s manufacturing businesses to record results, entered new markets, has built a global franchise in oat milling and manufacturing.

 

4) Rob Gordon remains President, SE Asia and will report directly to the President and CEO, Mayo Schmidt. Gordon leads the next stage of Viterra’s development to accelerate growth initiatives in the South East Asian marketplace.

 

5)  Steven Berger is appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and will lead a consolidated global services unit that includes Human Resources, Transformation, Employee Communications, Real Estate, Facilities Procurement, Engineering, and Corporate Security. Berger has over 25 years of experience leading major change across global enterprises. He is also responsible for the development of Viterra’s M&A Playbook which is the main tool Viterra uses to manage transformation, from small change through large acquisitions.

 

6) Jim Bell remains Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Bell will lead a global legal affairs team and will assume responsibility for Viterra’s Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. At previous employers in global energy, Bell with 26 years of experience held senior legal leadership roles related to international operations and M&A transactions.

 

7) Mike Brooks remains Senior Vice President IT and CIO. Brooks will continue to lead the information technology group.

 

Colleen Vancha, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs will retire September 15th, 2011 after almost 25 years with the Company.

 

Rex McLennan, Chief Financial Officer, will take on the additional responsibility for Investor Relations and External Communications and has begun an external search to identify a Vice President to lead these additional responsibilities for the global organization.