Global Agriculture

CropLife International announces J. Erik Fyrwald, CEO, Syngenta as Chairman of its Board of Directors

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26 October 2021, Belgium: CropLife International, the global federation representing the plant science industry, is pleased to announce the Chairmanship rotation, as part of its governance rules, electing J. Erik Fyrwald, CEO, Syngenta as Chairman of its Board of Directors.

With his extensive experience and inspiring leadership at Syngenta, Erik will support CropLife International to continue to drive its vision and purpose to advance innovation in agriculture for a sustainable future and play a leading role in enabling sustainable food systems.

Commenting on his appointment, Giulia Di Tommaso, CropLife International’s President & CEO, said, “I look forward to working closely with Erik and the Board of Directors to ensure we deliver on our ambitions to make a real difference in addressing climate change solutions, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, and delivering food security. Only by advancing innovation in agriculture, through meaningful partnerships and collaborations, can we look to address and deliver on Zero Hunger, Carbon Neutrality and Nature Positive.”

Erik succeeds Liam Condon, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, who over the last four years championed CropLife International’s new vision, purpose and strategy and ensured the industry made a significant contribution to the stability of the food system during COVID-19. “I would like to take the opportunity to thank Liam for his vision, energy and stewardship,” she added.

Commenting on his appointment, Erik said, “It is an honor to be elected as Chair of CropLife International at such a pivotal moment for our industry, farmers, and the planet. Addressing climate change is the most critical issue of our time. I look forward to working together with the team at CropLife International and the other member companies to help strengthen the vital contribution agricultural innovation makes in the urgent fight against climate change.”

Erik Fyrwald

Erik Fyrwald

CEO Syngenta Group

Erik Fyrwald joined Syngenta Group in June 2016 as Chief Executive Officer. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Univar, a leading distributor of chemistry and related services, from May 2012 until May 2016. In 2008, following a 27-year career at DuPont, he joined the Nalco Company, a leading water treatment products and services company, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until December 2011, when Nalco merged with Ecolab Inc. Following the merger, Erik Fyrwald served as President of Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene and energy technologies. From 2003 to 2008, Erik Fyrwald served as Group Vice President of the agriculture and nutrition division at the DuPont Company. From 2000 until 2003, he was Vice President and General Manager of DuPont’s nutrition and health business.

Erik Fyrwald serves on the boards of directors of Syngenta Group, Bunge, CropLife International, Eli Lilly, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the UN World Food Program Farm to Market Initiative. He is also Chairman of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.

Erik Fyrwald attended the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1981. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Liam Condon

Liam Condon

Member of Board of Management of Bayer AG, President of the Crop Science Division

Liam Condon serves as a member of the Bayer AG Board of Management and as President of the Crop Science division of Bayer. He is also responsible for the Animal Health Business Unit. Condon drives the vision for Crop Science and leads the business to shape agriculture responsibly,bringing innovation and sustainability to the forefront.

Condon studied International Marketing & Languages. After graduating, he joined the former Schering AG and held various sales and marketing positions. In 2005, he was appointed Managing Director of Schering in China. In 2006, Condon became Managing Director of Bayer HealthCare and General Manager of Bayer Pharma in China. In 2010, he was appointed Managing Director of Bayer HealthCare in Germany and Head of Bayer Schering Pharma in Germany. In December 2012, he became President of the Crop Science Division and has been a member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG since January 2016.

Condon is a member of the Governor’s Panel for Consumer Industries at the World Economic Forum and is former Chairman of the Board of Directors of CropLife International.

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