CHS Inc. announced June 21 that President and CEO John Johnson, 62, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2010. He has led the cooperative since June 2000. He was president and CEO of Harvest States Cooperatives from 1995 until the June 1998 merger with Cenex Inc. that formed CHS.
“Under John’s leadership, CHS has become a leader in adding value for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and consumers around the world,” said Michael Toelle, chairman of the CHS board of directors and a Browns Valley, Minn., farmer. “During his tenure, CHS has grown as a global grain marketer, strengthened producer connections to international and domestic grain markets and crop inputs, expanded value-added grain processing, and extended its U.S. energy supply presence.”
The CHS board has named a succession committee, which will conduct an extensive search for the company’s next president and CEO among both internal and external candidates, with a goal of naming a replacement prior to the cooperative’s Dec. 2, 2010, annual meeting, Toelle said. “CHS has a well-established succession plan and talent management program we are confident will enable us to select the right individual to lead this company to continued success in this dynamic global marketplace.”
Johnson began his career with Harvest States in 1976 as a feed consultant in the GTA Feeds division, later becoming regional sales manager, director of sales and marketing, and general manager of GTA Feeds. He was named group vice president of Harvest States Farm Marketing & Supply in 1992, becoming Harvest States president and CEO in 1995. Johnson currently serves on the boards of Ventura Foods, LLC, CF Industries Holdings Inc., the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Chuck Locker will retire July 1, after spending the past 17 years at Ben-Trei Fertilizer and a total of 52 years in the fertilizer business. Prior to Ben-Trei, Locker worked for 35 years with Agrico. Locker, 77, said he plans to use his free time to complete the build-out of his model train system at his home, and use his in-home woodworking shop to build furniture. He also wants to spend more time with his family and wife, Phyllis, at their home in Owasso, Okla. After July 1, he can be reached at plocker@cox.net.