Ingredion has announced that Larry Fernandes has been promoted to senior vice president and chief commercial officer, effective 1 March 1 2018.
Currently president and general director of Ingredion’s Mexico unit, Fernandes will have executive oversight for Ingredion’s global key account programme and corporate marketing function, as well as a newly established global role focused on customer experience.
He will become a member of the executive leadership team and is expected to be elected by the board of directors at its February meeting.
Fernandes joined the company in 1990 as a technical sales representative in Canada. He since has held several positions in the sales and commercial areas in the US and Canada, including vice president and general manager for the US and Canada business.
He was appointed general manager for Mexico in 2013. Fernandes holds a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in accounting from McGill University in Montreal.
Rob Ritchie will be succeeding Fernandes in Mexico as president and general director on 1 March. Ritchie, currently commercial vice president of US and Canada, will have full management responsibility for all aspects of business operations in Mexico.
Ritchie has been with Ingredion for more than 20 years, starting his career in Canada as an area director. He has since held roles of increasing responsibility within sales. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lakehead University, Ontario.
Ingredion CEO Jim Zallie said: “Larry will be an outstanding addition to our executive team and is ideally suited to shape and drive the newly established commercial excellence function. Larry possesses excellent commercial instincts and business acumen, and he understands the importance of Ingredion’s go-to-market function to create and deliver value for customers. I am confident that under Larry’s leadership, Ingredion’s delivery of outstanding products and services to customers will only be enhanced.
“Equally Rob is well prepared to lead Ingredion’s Mexican business. He has a deep understanding of both our core and specialties businesses and has played a key role in growing Ingredion’s US and Canada businesses over the last four years. I expect a seamless transition as Rob assumes his new role.”
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