Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta has named J. Erik Fyrwald, currently president and CEO of US chemical distributor Univar, to head the company from Jun. 1, 2016. Fyrwald succeeds John Ramsay who has been acting CEO since November 2015. Former CEO Mike Mack resigned in October 2015, two months after the company rejected a hostile takeover by US rival Monsanto and before it agreed to be acquired by ChemChina.

The future CEO, who holds a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, spent 27 years at US chemical produer DuPont, where he held various global positions and spent four years in Asia.

From 2003, Frywald was group vice president of DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition, which included the Pioneer Seed, DuPont Crop Protection Products and Solae Food Ingredients businesses. He also chaired Brussels-based Crop Life International, the industry association representing agrochemicals producer for two years.

Among other positions, the new Syngenta chief was chairman, president and CEO of water treatment and oil & gas products and services company Nalco and subsequently president of EcoLab, which acquired Nalco in December 2011. In May 2012, he was appointed CEO of Univar.

Syngenta chairman, Michel Demaré, said John Ramsay will work closely with the incoming  CEO to ensure a smooth transition and support the closing of the ChemChina transaction.