Syngenta Appoints Jeff Cecil as President of North America Crop Protection
Jeff Cecil succeeds Vern Hawkins, who will retire from the business leadership role after more than 40 years with Syngenta and its legacy companies.
22 October 2026, Greensboro: Syngenta has appointed Jeff Cecil as President of North America Crop Protection, effective October 1, 2026. He succeeds Vern Hawkins, who is retiring from the position after more than four decades with Syngenta and its predecessor companies.
Hawkins will continue as President of Syngenta Corporation, the company’s US parent entity, through 2027, focusing on corporate leadership and engagement with external stakeholders.
In his new role, Cecil will lead Syngenta’s North America Crop Protection business and oversee customer partnerships across the region. He has worked closely with Hawkins and the regional leadership team and will focus on the business’s customer relationships, product innovation and operations.
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“Jeff brings extensive agricultural experience, strong commercial leadership and a deep understanding of our industry,” said Steve Hawkins, President of Syngenta Crop Protection. He added that Cecil’s experience across commercial, portfolio management and global leadership roles would support the business as it enters its next phase of growth and innovation.
Cecil brings more than 30 years of experience with Syngenta and its legacy companies. Most recently, he served as Head of Marketing for US Crop Protection, where he was responsible for shaping commercial strategy, portfolio priorities and customer engagement across key crop segments.
During his career, Cecil has held leadership positions in sales, marketing and product management in North America and at Syngenta’s global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. As Global Head of Product Management for Seedcare, he led global portfolio strategy and worked across regions to advance product innovation and develop customer solutions.
Earlier, Cecil led US sales teams and contributed to the integration of the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses.
Cecil grew up on a family farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, and earned a business degree from Murray State University. He also helped manage his family’s grain and tobacco farming operation, an experience that has influenced his approach to supporting farmers and agricultural innovation.
Commenting on his appointment, Cecil said agriculture faces significant opportunities and challenges, adding that Syngenta could support farmers through science-based innovation, digital capabilities and the expertise of its teams.
He said he looked forward to working with employees, customers and partners to help farmers succeed and contribute to a productive and resilient future for North American agriculture.
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