People

Helge Lund has been nominated as the new chair of Yara International. The appointment was confirmed at Yara’s annual general meeting on 12th May. He replaces Trond Berger, the outgoing chair, who is stepping down after six years in the role and after an eight-year tenure on Yara’s board.

Helge Lund is an experienced chief executive, having been the CEO of Equinor (formerly Statoil), BG Group and Aker Kværner. He also has extensive board-level experience with a range of international companies, including stints as the board chair of both BP plc and Novo Nordisk.

Otto Søberg, the head of Yara’s nomination committee, thanked departing chair Trond Berger and highlighted the international leadership experience and strong track record of his replacement Helge Lund.

“[We] would like to express our appreciation to Trond Berger for his pivotal contribution during his tenure as Chair of Yara. His strong commitment, sound judgement and steady leadership have been important in guiding the company through a period marked by significant volatility and change,” said Søberg.

“The Committee is pleased to nominate Helge Lund as new Chair of the Board. Lund brings extensive experience from leading and governing large, international and highly complex organizations, as well as deep insight into energy intensive industries, capital markets and geopolitics. The Committee is confident that his experience and perspective will be a strong asset to Yara going forward,” he added.

Commenting on his appointment, Helge Lund said: “I greatly appreciate the confidence shown by the Nomination Committee and I am honored to be nominated as Chair of the Board of Yara. Yara plays a critical role in global food security and industrial value chains, operating at the intersection of agriculture, energy and geopolitics. I look forward to working closely with the Board, management and employees to support Yara’s longterm strategy and continued value creation.”

Trond Berger said it had been a privilege to serve as Yara’s chair during an extraordinary global period for the company: “Yara has navigated significant geopolitical, market and regulatory changes, while strengthening its position as a leading global crop nutrition company. Yara has a highly competent organization and a clear sense of purpose, and I am confident that Helge Lund will continue to support and strengthen the company’s development in the years ahead.”

Engro Fertilizers Ltd has appointed Imran Ahmed as its new CEO with effect from 11th May, following approval by the company’s board of directors. He succeeds former CEO Ali Rathore. Mr Rathore achieved record urea production and better operational performance during his tenure, despite gas supply constraints, inflationary pressures and agriculture sector challenges.

Engro is one of Pakistan’s leading fertilizer manufacturers, operating major production plants in Daharki and Port Qasim. It is widely recognised domestically for its flagship Zarkhez and Zingro fertilizer brands.

Mr Ahmed brings with him more than two decades of experience in the fertilizer and chemical industries. Prior to this appointment, he served as Engro’s chief operating officer, playing a pivotal role in optimising plant operations, expanding distribution networks, and driving digital transformation. In his new role, Imran Ahmed will be responsible for leading Engro’s growth strategy which aims to: improve production efficiency at the company’s manufacturing facilities; expand outreach to farmers through digital advisory services; strengthen the dealer network across rural Pakistan; drive product innovation and sustainable farming practices.

Andrew T Scribner became executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of CF Industries on 26th May, having been elected by the company’s board of directors. He will report directly to Christopher Bohn, president and CEO, and serve as a member of the company’s senior leadership team.

“We are pleased to welcome Andrew to CF Industries,” said Mr Bohn. “He is a disciplined, focused, and handson finance leader, and we believe his operational experience and strategic perspective will support our continued growth.”

Mr Scribner joins CF Industries from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, where he most recently served as vice president, global controller and head of corporate finance planning and analysis. Previously, he was the CFO of Kimberly-Clark North America. Prior to Kimberly-Clark, he held senior finance leadership roles at Gap, including CFO roles for its Banana Republic and Athleta brands, and spent 13 years at The Kraft Heinz Company and its predecessor, Kraft Foods Group, in roles of increasing responsibility. ■