Greeley-based Swift & Co., the country’s third-largest beef and pork processor, today said Wesley Mendonca Batista take over as chief executive officer of the company after it is purchased by J&F Participacoes SA of Brazil.
Sam B. Rovit, president, chief executive officer and a director of Swift since July 2005, will step down from his role following completion of the acquisition, which was announced in May.
Batista is currently the executive director of operations of Brazil’s JBS S.A., which is Latin America’s largest beef processor and is controlled by J&F.
“We are very grateful for Sam Rovit’s leadership during a very challenging time for both Swift and the beef industry,” Batista said in a statement issued by the company. “I look forward to bringing the JBS and Swift teams together to grow Swift into an even stronger company.”
