Syngenta has announced the appointment of J. Erik Fyrwald as CEO, effective June 1. Fyrwald currently serves as President and CEO of Univar, a U.S. chemistry distribution company. In his newly appointed position, he succeeds John Ramsay, who has served as ad interim CEO of Syngenta since November 2015.
Michel Demaré, Syngenta Chairman, said he looks forward to working with Fyrwald. "After a rigorous search, the Board concluded that Erik's leadership and considerable experience in both agriculture and chemicals, along with his strong track record of success as a CEO made him the outstanding candidate for the role,” Demaré said. “Erik has demonstrated throughout his career the ability to work successfully in different environments, designing and leading strategies which resulted in impressive value creation.”
Fyrwald said: "I have admired Syngenta from the outside for many years and am delighted, therefore, to have been chosen to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey. I greatly look forward to meeting employees, leaders, customers and other stakeholders after I join in June and to working with them to achieve further success in the years to come."
Ramsay, who served as CFO of Syngenta for nine years and will support the closing of the company’s ChemChina transaction, said he wishes Fyrwald success in his new role. “I should like to thank all my colleagues for their support during the past six months,” Ramsay said. “I will continue to offer my support and ensure that the company continues to drive forward.”
Fyrwald spent 27 years at DuPont where he held positions of increasing responsibility in technology, manufacturing, sales and marketing, strategic planning and regional and global business unit leadership, including four years in Asia. In 2003, Fyrwald was named Group Vice President of DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition, which included the Pioneer Seed, DuPont Crop Protection Products and Solae Food Ingredients businesses. Fyrwald also served as Chairman of Crop Life International for two years during this period.
In 2008, Fyrwald was named Chairman, President and CEO of Nalco, a leading global provider of Water Treatment and Oil & Gas products and services. In December 2011, Nalco was acquired by EcoLab. Fyrwald was President of EcoLab until May 2012, when he was appointed CEO of Univar, a leading global distributor of chemical products and provider of related services, including agricultural inputs.
Fyrwald serves on the boards of Eli Lilly and Company (including their Science and Technology Committee) and the Society of Chemical Industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
