MANAGEMENT PROFILES Together, Bunge North America’s senior management offers decades of agribusiness experience.
Soren W. Schroder
President and CEO, Bunge North America
Soren W. Schroder was appointed president and CEO of Bunge North America in 2010 and leads all of Bunge’s business operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He joined Bunge in 2000, and has served in variety of agribusiness leadership roles in the U.S. and Europe, most recently serving as Vice President, Agribusiness for Bunge Europe. Prior to joining Bunge, he worked for more than 15 years at Continental Grain and Cargill. Mr. Schroder received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Connecticut College.
Timothy J. Gallagher
Executive Vice President, Bunge North America
Timothy J. Gallagher is executive vice president of Bunge North America serving as general manager of the Oilseed Processing unit and responsible for managing BNA’s agribusiness services activities and the transportation group. Since joining Bunge in 1983 as a management trainee, Mr. Gallagher has had broad exposure to the agribusiness segment serving as an export trader, manager of the North American marine operations and as general manager of Bunge Grain. In 2007, Mr. Gallagher joined North America’s sister company, Bunge Global Agribusiness, where he served as director, global operations. In this role he helped ensure Bunge optimized its assets around the world. He returned to Bunge North America in July 2009.
Mr. Gallagher earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
David G. Kabbes
Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Bunge North America
David G. Kabbes is Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs of Bunge North America serving as General Counsel as well as overseeing government and industry affairs and communications. Mr. Kabbes received a bachelor’s degree from Quincy University in 1984 and a law degree from the University of Illinois in 1987. Prior to joining Bunge in 2000, Mr. Kabbes served as Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel at Purina Mills (1999-2000), Corporate Attorney at Koch Industries, Inc. (1997-1999), Partner at Schiff Hardin & Waite (1991-1997) and Associate at Thompson Coburn (1987-1991).
Todd A. Bastean
Vice President and CFO, Bunge North America
Todd Bastean was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bunge North America effective January 1, 2010. Mr. Bastean has been with Bunge since 1992 and has served in a number of financial and administrative roles. Most recently, he took general management roles first as general manager of Bunge Biofuels and then as vice president and general manager of Bunge Milling. Prior to joining Bunge, Mr. Bastean worked at KPMG Peat Marwick. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in accountancy.
Geralyn F. “Geri” Hayes
Vice President, Human Resources, Bunge North America
Geralyn F. “Geri” Hayes was named Vice President Human Resources of Bunge North America effective January 1, 2010. Ms. Hayes has been with Bunge since 1999 and has served as Benefits Director, Director of Organizational Development and, most recently, Vice President Human Resource Services. Prior to joining Bunge, Ms. Hayes worked at Angelica Corporation for 15 years where she held positions in cash management and human resources, including Director Corporate Human Resources. She is a graduate of Fontbonne University with a degree in business administration.
Richard A. Watson
Country Manager, Canada
Richard A. “Rick” Watson was appointed country manager of Canada for Bunge North America in 2008.
Mr. Watson joined Bunge in 2002 with the acquisition of Cereol in 2002. He previously held a number of commercial leadership roles in Oilseed and Oil Processing for CanAmera Foods and Central Soya, subsidiaries of Cereol, as well as with Procter & Gamble. A former representative on the Canola Council of Canada and past Chairman of Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, Mr. Watson received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Guelph.
John L. “Larry” Clarke
President and CEO, EGT, LLC
John L. “Larry” Clarke was named president and CEO of EGT, LLC, a joint venture with Bunge, ITOCHU and STX Pan Ocean, in June 2009. EGT is building and will operate a state-of-the-art export grain terminal at the Port of Longview, Wash. Before taking on this role, Mr. Clarke spent more than 25 years at Bunge North America most recently serving as Executive Vice President responsible for Bunge’s agribusiness and transportation activites. He has also held various trading and management positions including overseeing all export and domestic sales of soybean meal, hulls and oil for Bunge North America. He served as General Manager of Bunge’s operations in Canada and served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bunge Oilseed Processing. Mr. Clarke received bachelor degrees in Agricultural Economics and Business Statistics and Data Processing from Mississippi State University in 1983. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2007.
George P. Allard
Vice President, Bunge Milling
George P. Allard was named vice president and general manager of Bunge Milling in 2010. He joined Bunge in 2004 as treasurer of Bunge North America. He also served as chief financial officer for the company’s Canadian operations and for Bunge Latin America before returning to assume responsibility for North America’s corn dry milling and rice milling operations.
Mr. Allard brought twelve years of experience to Bunge having previously worked in various financial positions for Guidant Corporation and Eridania Beghin-Say.
Mr. Allard earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in international studies from The Johns Hopkins University.
Rodney D. Perry
Vice President, Bunge Oils
Rodney D. Perry has held the position of vice president and general manager for Bunge Oils since 2007. Mr. Perry joined Bunge in 2000 as sales and marketing manager of Bunge Milling and later served as vice president and general manager. In 2010, Mr. Perry held the general management position for Bunge Oils and Canadian Oilseed Processing.
Mr. Perry began his career in 1989 as a merchandising manager with Archer Daniels Midland Company where he was promoted to assistant general manager within ADM’s milling division. In 1993, Mr. Perry joined ConAgra where he held various commercial management positions. Mr. Perry joined Bethel Grain Company in 1999 and served as director of commercial activities.
Mr. Perry earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Illinois State University and an executive master’s degree in international business from St. Louis University in 2007.
C. Bailey Ragan
Vice President, Grain, Biofuels & Fertilizer
C. Bailey Ragan is a vice president responsible for grain, biofuels and fertilizer for Bunge North America. Mr. Ragan joined Bunge in 1981 as procurement manager at the soybean processing facility in Decatur, Ala. when Bunge purchased the plant from Goldkist. Within two years, he as promoted to commercial manager.
In 1998, Mr. Ragan moved to Bunge’s North American headquarters in St. Louis to assume responsibility for the company’s soybean crushing facilities in the South Central region. He transferred from the soybean processing unit to Bunge’s grain operations in 2002 where he last served as vice president and general manager before taking on the additional responsibility of the U.S. biofuels and fertilizer units in 2011.
Michael A. Snow
Vice President, Industrial Management
Michael A. Snow was named vice president of Industrial Management in 2006 and is responsible for operations support of Bunge North America’s facilities, development of major capital expenditure projects and for the company’s productivity, quality, safety and environmental efforts.
Mr. Snow joined Bunge in 1980 as an engineer at Bunge’s soybean processing plant in Destrehan, La. After leaving Bunge for four years to work for a Texas entrepreneur, he rejoined Bunge in 1986 at the company’s facility in Cairo, Ill. Mr. Snow moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1999 where he led the effort to start up and operate the largest soybean processing plant in the United States. He relocated to Bunge’s North American headquarters in 2003 to assume responsibility for operations support for the company’s oilseed processing unit before taking on his current role.
Mr. Snow is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering.