Incoming CHS Inc. President and CEO Carl Casale (GM Nov. 29, p. 1) has named his leadership team. Casale will succeed retiring President and CEO John Johnson on Jan. 3, 2011. The team includes:
strong>Mark Palmquist, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Ag Business. Palmquist, 53, will be responsible for all grain and processing related business units, including crop nutrients, country operations, grain marketing, terminal operations, exports, logistics and transportation, and international grain businesses. Palmquist will oversee oilseed processing operations and the company’s Horizon Milling LLC joint venture in wheat milling. He joined the company in 1979 as a grain merchandiser and has held a variety of positions in grain, currently serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer, Ag Business. Palmquist holds a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., and attended the MBA program at the University of Minnesota.
Jay Debertin, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Energy and Foods. Debertin, 50, will be responsible for refineries, pipelines, refined fuels sales, marketing and distribution, lubricants, propane, and renewable fuels, as well as vegetable oil-based foods through Ventura Foods LLC. Debertin joined the company in 1984 in its Energy division and has held a variety of positions, serving most recently as executive vice president and chief operating officer, Processing. Debertin currently serves as chairman of the board of the National Cooperative Refinery Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Lynden Johnson, senior vice president, Business Solutions. Johnson, 50, will assume responsibility for Business Solutions, with an emphasis on programs and products that support the success of member cooperatives and other agribusinesses, as well as producers. His responsibilities will include Business Solutions Consulting, along with subsidiaries Ag States Group, Country Hedging Inc., and Cofina Financial. Johnson was named vice president of Business Solutions Consulting in 2008 and previously held the position of vice president, Member Services, since 2005. Prior to joining CHS, Johnson managed cooperatives in North Dakota and Minnesota. He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University.
Pat Kluempke, executive vice president, Corporate Services. Kluempke, 62, will be responsible for human resources, information technology, marketing communications, community stewardship, governmental affairs, business risk control, and building and office services, along with corporate board coordination, corporate planning, and international relations. Kluempke joined the company in 1982 and began his career in grain trading and export marketing. He has held a variety of positions in operations and corporate functions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University.
David Kastelic, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Kastelic, 55, will assume responsibility for finance, accounting, and risk management. Most recently he served as senior vice president and general counsel for CHS. He joined the CHS legal department in 1993 after 13 years in private practice, and was named to his current position in 2000. He received a bachelor’s of science degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., and a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Lisa Zell, senior vice president and general counsel. Zell, 42, will serve as the company’s senior vice president and general counsel. She joined CHS in 1999 as a corporate attorney and has served as senior attorney since 2003. She has served as principal legal counsel since 2008. Zell received a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University and a law degree from Drake University.