Brian Sikes

Brian Sikes was elected to serve as Cargill’s Board Chair in Jan. 2024 and has served as Chief Executive Officer since Jan. 2023. He is the 10th CEO in Cargill’s 160-year history, leading the company’s efforts to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way.

Brian began his career with Cargill in 1991 and joined the executive team in 2019. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, where he applied decades of experience spanning multiple businesses and geographies to reshape the company’s strategy for growth.

Before serving as COO, Brian led Cargill’s global Protein and Salt enterprise, growing the business into an industry leader. He previously led the transformation of its North America protein business, delivering expanded offerings in line with shifting demand for value-added protein, sustainable supply chains, and alternative proteins. He also led Cargill’s protein business in Europe and was President of Cargill’s Foodservice business.

From his time on the floor of Cargill’s beef plant in Plainview, Texas, and throughout his three decades with the company, Brian has been a passionate advocate for workers on the front lines of the food system. He is known in the industry for developing a deep bench of leaders and mentoring people with unconventional career paths.

In addition to his leadership role at Cargill, Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-China Business Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics from Texas Tech University.