Agriculture multinational Cargill announced this week that company veteran Brian Sikes has been named Chief Operating Officer. The role has been vacant since 2013, when then-COO David McLennan was appointed as CEO.

Sikes is presently Chief Risk Officer and leads Cargill's global protein and salt businesses, although the company has not confirmed whether he will continue to hold multiple roles or whether he will focus on any one role. He has been with Cargill for over three decades, holding leadership positions in the US, Canada, and Europe.

Between 2013-2014, Sikes also headed its global talent management function as Global Director of Cargill's Human Resources Talent Center of Expertise, where he managed the company's global talent portfolio and drove a number of inclusion and diversity initiatives.

Chairman and CEO McLennan praised Sikes for his “growth mindset and strength of leadership, saying: "Brian is always thinking about our customers and innovative solutions that will exceed their expectations today and in the future. Equally so, he’s a people-first leader, with an unwavering commitment to health and safety, and builds diverse, inclusive teams that deliver strong results.”