Jeremiah O’Callaghan has been named the new chairman of Brazil-based meat and poultry company JBS. The company also appointed three new members – Cledorvino Belini, Roberto Penteado de Camargo Ticoulat and Wesley Batista Filho – to its board.
The appointments were made at JBS board meeting on October 20.
Jeremiah O’Callaghan an industry leader since 1983
O’Callaghan’s was elected to replace Tarek Farahat, who has served as the chairman of the JBS board since late May, when then-chairman Joesley Batista stepped down amid a corruption scandal.
O’Callaghan, a native of Ireland, immigrated to Brazil in 1979. He joined the Brazilian meat industry in 1983, developing global trade strategies for the Brazilian beef industry.
He initially worked for Mouran and Bordon, before joining JBS in 1996 to develop the department of international businesses.
For the past ten years, O’Callaghan has been the JBS investor relations officer.
About the new board members
Belini enjoyed a 44-year career at Fiat, serving as president in Brazil and Latin America for 11 years between 2004 and 2015. Belini was also president of the National Association of Automobile Manufactures (Anfavea) between 2010 and 2013.
Roberto Penteado de Camargo Ticoulat is an expert in International Trade and holds leadership positions in important associations, including the Brazilian Council of Importers and Exporters (CECIEx), where he is the president, and the São Paulo Trade Association (ACSP), where he serves as vice president.
Serving the company for more than seven years, Wesley Filho served as president of JBS operations in Uruguay, Paraguay and Canada, and led the beef operations in the U.S. Recently, he assumed the presidency of JBS in South America.
The new board appointees will join José Batista Sobrinho, Gilberto Meirelles Xandó Baptista, Aguinaldo Gomes Ramos Filho, José Gerardo Grossi and Sérgio Roberto Waldrich on the board. Sobrinho is presently the CEO of JBS.
“I am convinced that the new composition of the board, including professionals with extensive experience and four independent members, is an important milestone in the strengthening of JBS corporate governance,” said O’Callaghan. “In addition, I am confident that this board will continue to provide support to the initiatives of the company’s officers for the prosperity of the business, as well as in promoting its relevant social function.”
Tarek Farahat’s continued role with JBS
Farahat will serve JBS as global advisor with the mission of governance and the international development of JBS. He will also retain his position on the Pilgrim’s Pride board.
Speaking on his brief tenure as JBS chairman and the future of the company, Farahat stated: “I’m pleased to verify that, during my time as chairman of JBS, among other achievements, we hired a global compliance officer and implemented a robust compliance program in Brazil, with the engagement of about 800 JBS business leaders. In addition, the company formally adhered to the leniency agreement signed between the controlling shareholder of JBS (J&F) and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office. We were also able to secure a stabilization agreement between the company and commercial banks in Brazil, resulting in an improvement of its debt profile. During this period, a divestiture program was also successfully implemented, thus reducing indebtedness and allowing the company to focus on its main businesses.
“My priority as global advisor is to act in the following areas: corporate strategy, governance and communication. My goal is to strengthen the company, implementing and adhering to the best global standards of governance and transparency.”
