- Jeff Cecil appointed President, North America Crop Protection, effective October 1, 2026
- Vern Hawkins to retire after more than four decades of service to Syngenta and its legacy companies
- Cecil brings more than 30 years of agricultural and commercial leadership experience
GREENSBORO, N.C., U.S.A., Oct. 13, 2026 – Syngenta announced that Jeff Cecil has been appointed President, North America Crop Protection, effective October 1, 2026. Cecil succeeds Vern Hawkins, who is retiring as President of the North American Crop Protection business after a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years with Syngenta and its predecessor companies. Hawkins will continue in his role as President of the US parent company, Syngenta Corporation, to provide corporate leadership and external stakeholder engagement through 2027.
In his new role, Cecil will lead Syngenta's North America Crop Protection business and customer partnerships across the region. Having worked closely with Hawkins and the North America Crop Protection leadership team, Cecil will build on the organization's strong foundation of customer relationships, innovation and operational excellence.
“As we thank Vern Hawkins for his many contributions and decades of service to Syngenta and the agriculture industry, we are pleased to announce Jeff as his successor,” said Steve Hawkins, President, Syngenta Crop Protection. “Jeff brings extensive agricultural experience, strong commercial leadership and a deep understanding of our industry. His experience across commercial, portfolio and global leadership roles positions him well to lead North America Crop Protection and guide the business through its next phase of growth and innovation.”
Cecil brings more than three decades of experience with Syngenta and its legacy companies to the role. Most recently, he served as Head of Marketing for U.S. Crop Protection, where he helped shape commercial strategy, portfolio priorities and customer engagement efforts across the business. In that role, he helped align marketing, portfolio and commercial priorities to support business performance and strengthen customer engagement across key crop segments.
Throughout his career, Cecil has held leadership positions across 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 Seedcare innovation, strengthen customer solutions and support business growth. Earlier in his career, he led U.S. sales teams and played an important role in the integration of the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses.
Raised on a family farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, Cecil earned a business degree from Murray State University and helped to manage the family's grain and tobacco farming operation. Those experiences continue to inform his commitment to supporting farmers and advancing agricultural innovation.
“Agriculture stands at the center of some of the world's most important opportunities and challenges,” said Cecil. “Syngenta is well positioned to help farmers navigate those challenges through science-based innovation, digital capabilities and the expertise of our teams. I am honored to lead North America Crop Protection and look forward to working with our employees, customers and partners to help farmers succeed and support a productive and resilient future for North American agriculture.”
Media Contacts
Wendell Calhoun
336-402-5716
wendell.calhoun@syngenta.com
Kathy Eichlin
336-554-4011
kathy.eichlin@syngenta.com
About Syngenta Crop Protection
Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation with a presence in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world’s population while preserving our planet. Its bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Guided by its Sustainability Priorities, Syngenta is developing new technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States. Read our stories and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & X.
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