ADM names Jeff Rowe as Chief Operating Officer
The appointment comes weeks after ADM expanded its work on regenerative agriculture through a joint program with General Mills and Walmart.
USA – Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) has appointed Jeff Rowe as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective August 17, 2026, as the company strengthens its senior leadership team and continues to expand its work across global agriculture.
Rowe will oversee ADM’s commercial businesses, global manufacturing, and research and development. He will report directly to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Juan Luciano. The company said the newly created position reflects its focus on stronger operational leadership and faster progress across its global business.
Rowe joins ADM after serving as Chief Executive Officer of Syngenta Group, where he supported sustainable farming practices and introduced artificial intelligence into agricultural operations. Before Syngenta, he spent more than 20 years at DuPont Pioneer in senior leadership roles covering strategy, international operations, biotechnology, and regulatory affairs.
His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Iowa State University, a Juris Doctor from Drake Law School, and a Global Executive MBA from NYU Stern and the London School of Economics.
Rowe also farms in Illinois as a fifth generation farmer, using regenerative farming practices that focus on improving long term soil health and farm performance. His experience in both farming and corporate leadership gives him knowledge of the issues producers face while managing large agricultural businesses.
The appointment comes as the agriculture sector continues to respond to changing market conditions, sustainability goals, and increased use of digital tools across farming and food production.
The leadership change follows another important step by ADM earlier this month. On July 15, the company joined General Mills and Walmart in a program covering 40,000 acres of wheat farmland across the US Midwest to support regenerative agriculture.
The program focuses on wheat growing areas in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, where General Mills sources wheat from ADM for products sold through Walmart and Sam’s Club. American Farmland Trust and Ducks Unlimited will provide technical support to farmers participating in the initiative.
“The success of regenerative agriculture depends on the entire value chain. Together with General Mills and Walmart, we’re bridging the gap for farmers to increasingly adopt and expand regenerative practices,” said Katherine Pickus, Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM.
The companies will provide technical support and financial incentives to encourage practices such as no till farming and cover crops. The work also supports earlier commitments by General Mills and Walmart to expand regenerative agriculture across hundreds of thousands of acres by 2030, while adding to ADM’s work with farmers across nearly five million regenerative acres worldwide.
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