SÃO PAULO, Brazil – JBS SA’s board has appointed Joesley Batista board chairman and Wesley Batista as the president and CEO effective Feb. 1. After five years leading the growth and internationalization of the company as well as advancing the modernization of its corporate governance structure, Joesley, who had assumed both the chairman and the CEO positions, appointed Wesley to replace him as CEO.

Wesley, who has 22 years of company experience, initially ran the JBS South American beef business before transferring to the US four years ago to become the CEO of JBS USA, where he focused on the restructuring, expansion and integration of the North American and Australian operations.


"Wesley, with his broad experience and his successful track record in the sector, is exceptionally qualified to lead JBS S.A. and its 125,000 employees worldwide to a greater level of success in the coming years" said Joesley Batista. "He has profound knowledge of our business and is well equipped to continue the consolidation, integration and synergy capturing between all our global production platforms, all of which I am certain will further enhance value for our shareholders as well as providing a better future for our employees."

"I am proud to be able to announce this step, which demonstrates the maturity of our top management and which will allow me to dedicate more of my time to strategic matters and to the longevity of the company as chairman of the board of this organization which was founded by my father 58 years ago." he added.