Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM), one of the world’s largest
agricultural processors, today announced that Patricia A. Woertz has
been selected as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the
Board of Directors, succeeding G. Allen Andreas, who remains as Chairman
of the Board.
Woertz, 53, most recently was Executive Vice President of Chevron
Corporation, in charge of the oil company’s “downstream” operations,
including refining, marketing, lubricant, supply and trading businesses
in 180 countries, with more than $100 billion in annual revenues and a
global workforce of 30,000. Chevron is one of the world’s leading energy
companies, and Woertz was one of the highest-ranking executives in the
energy industry.
“Pat Woertz is a proven executive with an exceptional blend of
strategic, analytic, business and leadership skills,” said Andreas. “Her
selection was endorsed unanimously by our Board of Directors, and we are
confident that she is the ideal person to sustain ADM’s strong
performance and lead the Company into the next chapter of its history.”
Woertz becomes only the 8th CEO in the 104-year history of ADM.
Commenting on her appointment, Woertz said:
“I am honored and excited to be part of the ADM organization and look
forward to working with its outstanding leadership team and Board of
Directors. ADM is one of the leading agricultural companies in the
world, with a long tradition of applying innovation and resourcefulness
to feed and fuel the world. While most of my executive experience has
been in the field of energy, there are considerable similarities in
commodity-based businesses as we build competitive advantages across the
value chain.”
“ADM’s Board sought a CEO with outstanding credentials and experience in
leading a complex, global business and a track record of outstanding
operating performance,” said O. Glenn Webb, lead Director and member of
the select committee of ADM’s Board of Directors. “Pat met all of our
Board’s criteria. She has delivered record earnings and returns at
Chevron and has further distinguished herself working with a diverse
range of government, community and commercial stakeholders. She has also
been widely admired for her integrity, her high ethical standards and
her collegial and collaborative leadership style.”
Prior to becoming Executive Vice President at Chevron in 2001, Woertz
was President of Chevron Products Co. since November 1998. In January
1996, she was named President of Chevron International Oil Co. and a
Vice President of logistics and trading for Chevron Products Co. In
October 1993, she was named President of Chevron Canada Ltd., a refining
and marketing company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp.
Woertz started her career as a certified public accountant with Ernst &
Young. In 1977, she joined Gulf Oil Corporation in Pittsburgh and held
positions in refining and marketing, strategic planning and finance.
From 1985 to 1987, during the merger of Gulf and Chevron, she worked on
asset divestitures as part of the debt-reduction process. In 1989, she
became finance manager with Chevron Information Technology Co. and, in
1991, was named head of strategic planning at Chevron.
A native of Pittsburgh, Woertz earned her Bachelor of Science degree
from Pennsylvania State University and also is a graduate of Columbia
University’s International Executive Development Program. She serves on
the Board of Trustees of the University of San Diego and on the Board of
Visitors of Pennsylvania State University. In addition, she was formerly
a director of the American Petroleum Institute. Fortune magazine has
named Woertz one of the top ten most powerful women in business every
year since 2000
About ADM
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a world leader in agricultural
processing and fermentation technology. ADM is one of the world’s
largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a
leader in the production of soybean oil and meal, ethanol, corn
sweeteners and flour. In addition, ADM produces value-added food and
feed ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over
25,000 employees, more than 250 processing plants and net sales for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 of $35.9 billion. Additional information
can be found on ADM’s Web site at www.adm.com.
ADM Media Relations
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