Two of Cargill Inc.'s top leaders, both with more than 30 years of experience at the agribusiness giant, are set to retire.
Meanwhile, a Cargill spokesman said he knew of no planned layoffs or office closings at the company. Reuters on Friday reported that a restructuring would result in both, citing unnamed sources.
"I haven't heard anything about layoffs or office closures," said Mark Klein, a Cargill spokesman. "Like any organization, there are people coming and going all the time."
But Klein said no big layoffs were planned.
Minnetonka-based Cargill is one of the world's largest privately held companies. It employs more than 150,000 people worldwide, including — as of March 2014 — about 5,900 people in Minnesota, mostly in white-collar jobs in the Twin Cities.
Two Cargill veterans and vice chairmen, Paul Conway and Emery Koenig, will retire on Dec. 31 and Feb. 1, respectively. Their retirements were announced internally earlier this week. Conway, who oversees the food ingredients businesses, has been with Cargill for 36 years; Koenig, Cargill's chief risk officer, has been with the company 38 years.
The two are members of Cargill's six-person leadership team, which is headed by CEO David MacLennan. Their retirements will set up some of the biggest personnel decisions for MacLennan since he became CEO in late 2013.
"With Paul and Emery retiring, I imagine Dave will have to fill their roles," Klein said.
Mike Hughlett • 612-673-7003