JBS S.A. has appointed Joesley Batista as the board chairman and Wesley Batista as the president and CEO of the company.
Joesley led the Brazilian meat giant’s international growth efforts over the last five years, including its acquisitions of Greeley, Colo.-based Swift & Co. and then-Pittsburg, Texas-based Pilgrim’s Pride, now operating under JBS USA. He appointed Wesley, his brother, to replace him as CEO. Wesley initially ran the JBS South American beef business before transferring to the U.S. to become the CEO of JBS USA, where he focused on the restructuring, expansion and integration of the North American and Australian operations.
Joesley said he will focus on long-term strategic matters for the company, which was founded by his father 58 years ago.
