Brothers Wesley Mendonca Batista and Joesley Mendonca Batista are the two newest members of the Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Board of Directors.
According to a Form 8-K that can be found on the Pilgrim’s Pride investor relations website, Wesley and Joesley are the two largest shareholders of the company through their shareholding interest in JBS, which holds a majority interest in Pilgrim’s Pride.
The two were appointed to fill positions previously held by Wesley Batista Filho and Juanita Maestri Karoleski. On February 8, both notified the company of their resignation from the board, but it was stated on the Form 8-K that neither resigned because of “any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies, or practices.” In April 2023, it was announced that Batista Filho was named the CEO of JBS USA.
The Batista brothers, according to the filing, both have more than 35 years of experience in the animal protein industry, and both had previously held leadership positions with JBS – Joesley was the chairman and Wesley was the CEO. However, both stepped down in 2017 amid a corruption controversy. Both were acquitted of charges against them in 2023.
Both are now co-controlling shareholders of J&F, one of the largest business groups in Brazil that controls several businesses, including JBS. Joesley is also the president of the J&F Institute, and Wesley is the vice president of that same entity. JBS founder and namesake José Batista Sobrinho is the father to the new board members, and a grandfather to Batista Filho.
Pilgrim’s Pride, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, is the second largest poultry company in the United States. It also has operations in Mexico and in Europe through the Moy Park and Pilgrim’s UK subsidiaries.
