JBS USA announced this week that, as part of a scheduled succession plan, Don Jackson will retire as CEO effective at the end of 2012. Andre Nogueira, former JBS USA chief financial officer and current chief executive officer of JBS Australia, will become CEO of JBS USA effective January 1, 2013. Jackson will gradually transition his roles and responsibilities to Nogueira through the end of this year. Jackson will remain with the company in an advisory capacity and retain his seat on the board of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation.
Jackson was named president and CEO of JBS USA in 2010. Prior to joining JBS USA, Jackson served as CEO for Pilgrim’s Pride where he successfully guided the company through bankruptcy, ultimately negotiating the sale of controlling interest to JBS USA. Prior to his time at Pilgrim’s, Jackson had a successful career with Central Soya, Seaboard, ConAgra, and Foster Farms. Jackson is a longtime member of the National Chicken Council board of directors and served as NCC chairman in 2005-2006.
Nogueira, in his new role as JBS USA CEO, will have responsibility for all U.S. and Australia operations and will report directly to Wesley Batista, president and CEO of JBS global operations. Under the new structure, Bill Rupp, in addition to his current role as president and chief operating officer of the JBS USA beef business, will assume leadership of the Australia business and report to Nogueira.
Nogueria assumes the position of JBS USA CEO with over 25 years of leadership experience in corporate business in both the United States and Brazil. For the past five years, he has been a part of JBS, serving as JBS USA CEO for four years and as CEO of JBS Australia for the past year. Rupp joined JBS USA in 2010 as president and COO of the beef business unit. Prior to joining JBS, he spent more than 20 years at Cargill where he held a variety of senior-level positions.
