Brian Peterson, SVP, Corporate Affairs to Retire ADM Reorganizes Corporate Affairs Functions
Brian Peterson, SVP, Corporate Affairs to Retire ADM Reorganizes Corporate Affairs Functions
2007/4/23
- Ed Harjehausen, Senior Vice President, Corn and Specialty Food & Feed; Shannon Herzfeld, Vice President, Government Relations assume expanded responsibilities.
- Victoria Podesta joins ADM as Vice President, Corporate Communications
Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) said that Brian Peterson, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs has elected to retire and that ADM’s corporate affairs activities will be reorganized.
Effective immediately, Ed Harjehausen, Senior Vice President, Corn and Specialty Food & Feed will assume additional responsibility for ADM’s marketing efforts.
Shannon Herzfeld, Vice President, Government Relations will report to ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz and will assume expanded responsibilities for relations with trade and producer associations.
Effective May 1, 2007, Victoria Podesta will join ADM as Vice President, Corporate Communications, reporting to Woertz. She will be responsible for internal and external communications including media relations and community engagement efforts.
Commenting on this reorganization, Woertz said “Several months ago Brian Peterson informed me of his intention to retire and we began a process to re-examine the needs of our Company as we build our global leadership in BioEnergy and the agribusiness value chain. We identified an opportunity to realign corporate affairs functions closer to the businesses and initiatives they support.”
Peterson
Brian Peterson joined ADM in 1980 as a merchandising manager at the oilseed operations in Red Wing, Minnesota. Over the course of his career, he assumed positions of increasing responsibility in ADM’s Vitamin E, Specialty Feed Ingredients and Oilseed Processing businesses. He had several international assignments, including Hamburg, Germany where he served as Group Vice President and Managing Director of ADM International Ltd. He was elected Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs in 2003 and was named to the Strategic Planning Committee in 2006.
“Brian Peterson has had a distinguished 27-year career with ADM. His hard work and dedication have contributed to the success of many of ADM’s businesses over the years,” Woertz said.
Harjehausen
Edward Harjehausen joined ADM in 1975. He was appointed Senior Vice President, Corn and Specialty Food & Feed in 2005, with responsibilities for ethanol, sweeteners and starches, corn processing, specialty food and feed ingredients, and natural health and nutrition. Harjehausen received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Iowa. He serves on the Board of Directors of ALMEX, a joint venture with Tate & Lyle, Red Star Yeast, a joint venture with LeSaffre, and the Corn Refiners Association.
“Ed Harjehausen will lead the development of a cross-divisional product marketing center of excellence, which will benefit from his deep understanding of the commercial needs of our business,” Woertz said.
Herzfeld
Shannon Herzfeld joined ADM as Vice President, Government Relations in 2005. She is located in Washington, D.C. and manages ADM international, federal and state governmental affairs. Prior career positions include Senior Vice President, International Affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America trade association and Director, International Trade Services for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. Herzfeld received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and physics from Connecticut College, an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania and Masters’ degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
“Shannon Herzfeld will bring leadership to our participation with trade and producer associations,” Woertz said. “She is respected for her integrity and acumen and her commitment to fostering partnership with and among stakeholders.”
Podesta
Since 1989, Victoria Podesta has been a corporate communications consultant, specializing in communication strategy, corporate reputation, media relations and employee communications for global companies seeking exceptional growth and cultural change to lead in changing markets. She has served as a consultant to ADM since May 2006. Other recent clients have included Chevron, Charles Schwab, AAA, Bank of America, Federated Department Stores/Macy’s and Visa International. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in British and American literature from Scripps College and a Masters degree in writing from the University of San Francisco.
“Victoria Podesta brings to ADM exceptional understanding of how to employ communication to achieve strategic and organizational goals. I am confident she will make a strong addition to the ADM team,” Woertz said.
About ADM
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is the world leader in BioEnergy and has a premier position in the agricultural processing value chain. ADM is one of the world’s largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is a leading manufacturer of biodiesel, ethanol, soybean oil and meal, corn sweeteners, flour and other value-added food and feed ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 26,000 employees, more than 240 processing plants and net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006 of $37 billion. Additional information can be found on ADM’s Web site at www.adm.com/.
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