Wesley Batista is returning to head up meat giant JBS as group CEO, restoring leadership under the controlling family shareholders.
Wesley Batista Filho – his full name as the son of founder José Batista Sobrinho – will become CEO in January, while current chief Gilberto Tomazoni will step down to become vice chairman of the Brazil-headquartered group’s board
Tomazoni, a veteran of JBS who has been global CEO for the past eight years, will also take on the role of “senior adviser” once the transition takes place. Wesley Batista, who along with his brother Joesley control the Batista family’s holding company, J&F Investimentos, will shift from his current role as CEO of the meatpacker’s US unit, JBS USA. JBS, which in turn is majority owned by J&F Investimentos, said in a statement that the leadership change “reflects the company’s commitment to thoughtful succession planning”.
No other reasons for the transition were provided as JBS also reported a second-quarter loss of $102m alongside the announcement, although sales rose 14% to $23.9bn. Elsewhere, EBITDA, operating income and EPS all fell. “I’m honoured to take on this responsibility and build on the extraordinary work accomplished by Tomazoni during his tenure as CEO,” Wesley Batista said of his new appointment. “Having worked alongside him for more than a decade, Tomazoni and I have built a great working relationship and a shared vision – grounded in the company’s values.” The incoming CEO added: “Our priorities remain clear: supporting our team members, serving our customers and producer partners, operating with excellence and creating long-term value for our shareholders.” Wesley Batista has headed up JBS’s North American business since 2023. He entered the company in 2011 and has held various roles across the group business, including president of the Canada division and CEO of the Brazil unit.