JBS Appoints Gilberto Tomazoni to Succeed Founder

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São Paulo, Brazil-headquartered JBS S.A. has named Gilberto Tomazoni as its new chief executive officer. The former chief operating officer replaces Jose Batista Sobrinho, who founded the world’s largest meat company in 1953. Today it operates approximately 150 beef, chicken and pork processing plants around the world and employs about 230,000 people. Revenues last year topped $51.5 billion.

“I am delighted to have Tomazoni as successor,” said Sobrinho. “He lives the company’s culture and has deep knowledge of our business around the world. As chief operating officer, he led JBS’ operations very successfully and, from now on, will lead the company into a new phase of development.”

Gilberto TomazoniCEO Gilberto TomazoniTomazoni, a mechanical engineer by training, has held senior positions in the food industry for most of his professional career. In addition to logging more than five years as a JBS executive, his resume includes almost six years as chairman of Pilgrim’s and five years as chief executive officer at Sadia, as well as a three-year stint as vice president at global commodities giant Bunge Ltd.

Octogenarian Sobrinho stepped in to replace his son, Wesley Batista, as ceo in September of 2017. This followed Wesley’s arrest, along with the arrest of his brother and former JBS Chairman Joesley Batista, in connection with insider trading allegations.

JBS, in addition to fellow São Paulo-headquartered meat packer BRF S.A., were implicated in a scandal last year involving alleged bribes of Brazilian government authorities in a case known as “Carne Fraca.” Joesley, who remains a significant JBS shareholder, was arrested again in November, reportedly in connection with a police inquiry into illegal campaign contributions.