White Plains agribusiness giant Bunge Ltd. has announced several changes in its senior leadership, including the appointment of John Neppl as its new chief financial officer.
Neppl, who begins as Bunge CFO effective May 29, will succeed Thomas M. Boehlert, who has held the position since 2017 and will remain for a transition period. Neppl joins Bunge from Omaha”™s Green Plains Inc., where he served as CFO. Green Plains is a diversified commodity processing business with operations related to ethanol production, grain handling and storage, cattle feeding, and commodity marketing and logistics services.
The appointment is part of Bunge”™s new, global operating model, meant to align with its commercial activities: handling and processing, managing physical product flows, and risk management and optimization.
“Shifting away from our regional, matrix-based structure will simplify the organization and speed up decision making, increasing our strategic flexibility, customer focus and accountability,” said Bunge CEO Gregory A. Heckman. “These changes support our strategic priorities: driving operational performance, optimizing the portfolio and strengthening financial discipline.”
As a result, agribusiness will be organized under three of the company’s most experienced executives to better leverage their skills and capabilities. They will work closely together to manage these operations and capitalize on the opportunities offered by the company’s physical, financial, and information flows.
Raul Padilla, president, South America and Sugar & Bioenergy, becomes president, Global Operations. He will manage all physical handling and processing assets, with particular focus on the processing value chains, including Milling. He will continue to lead Sugar & Bioenergy.
Christos Dimopoulos, president, Agribusiness, becomes president, Global Supply Chains. He will lead the physical commodity supply chains that support Bunge’s handling and processing assets. He will also be responsible for trade flows, freight and distribution, serving Bunge and other customers.
Brian Zachman, president, Global Risk Management, will continue in that role, working to improve returns while reducing volatility across the company.
