Empowering great people and enabling them to build great businesses is the key to creating enduring value.
Paul Fribourg, Chairman & CEO
Empowering great people and enabling them to build great businesses is the key to creating enduring value.
Paul Fribourg, Chairman & CEO
Empowering great people and enabling them to build great businesses is the key to creating enduring value.
Paul Fribourg, Chairman & CEO
The Conti Way
Our approach to talent goes well beyond our employee base and extends into our vast network of partners, advisors, and broader professional and personal networks. Our long- term horizon and permanent capital base offer our team members entrepreneurial opportunities without having to take on entrepreneurial risks. Our track record illustrates how our people succeed by taking on big responsibility with the support of a strong network and infrastructure.

Continuity
We make sound strategic decisions that move us forward

Ownership
We own our actions and results

Network
We work together to add value through our global relationships

Talent
We attract and develop top talent

Integrity
Our word is our bond
The Conti Way
Our approach to talent goes well beyond our employee base and extends into our vast network of partners, advisors, and broader professional and personal networks. Our long- term horizon and permanent capital base offer our team members entrepreneurial opportunities without having to take on entrepreneurial risks. Our track record illustrates how our people succeed by taking on big responsibility with the support of a strong network and infrastructure.
Continuity
"For us to flourish for over 200 years, we had to be adaptable and at the same time stay true to our deep-rooted values and beliefs, passed from generation to generation. During my 26 years with Conti I’ve had the opportunity to grow in different People and Technology roles and have seen first-hand how we manage to continually reinvent ourselves while staying true to who we are."
-Joe Bongiorno, Vice President, Compensation and Benefits
Continuity
"For us to flourish for over 200 years, we had to be adaptable and at the same time stay true to our deep-rooted values and beliefs, passed from generation to generation. During my 26 years with Conti I’ve had the opportunity to grow in different People and Technology roles and have seen first-hand how we manage to continually reinvent ourselves while staying true to who we are."
-Joe Bongiorno, Vice President, Compensation and Benefits
Ownership
“At Conti, we work with leading entrepreneurs and management teams in the food and ag space globally. From helping local Chinese farmers manage their animal nutrition needs, to opening doors and providing on-the-ground support in China for our US and Latin America-based partners, our sense of ownership is reflected in how we work alongside them to help achieve their strategic goals.”
- Yin Chen, Managing Director, Conti Asia
Ownership
“At Conti, we work with leading entrepreneurs and management teams in the food and ag space globally. From helping local Chinese farmers manage their animal nutrition needs, to opening doors and providing on-the-ground support in China for our US and Latin America-based partners, our sense of ownership is reflected in how we work alongside them to help achieve their strategic goals.”
- Yin Chen, Managing Director, Conti Asia
Network
"We dedicate a lot of our time to building meaningful networks which takes intentional and consistent effort. Food and agriculture is such a huge global industry that we cannot succeed without our partners who are like-minded investors and operators. We see day in, day out just how powerful the network effect is. It drives commercial and investment opportunities as well as access to talent, and it cannot be replicated without years of trust and relationships.”
- Chris Abbott & Brian Loeb, Co-Heads, Conti Ventures
Network
"We dedicate a lot of our time to building meaningful networks which takes intentional and consistent effort. Food and agriculture is such a huge global industry that we cannot succeed without our partners who are like-minded investors and operators. We see day in, day out just how powerful the network effect is. It drives commercial and investment opportunities as well as access to talent, and it cannot be replicated without years of trust and relationships.”
- Chris Abbott & Brian Loeb, Co-Heads, Conti Ventures
Talent
“When my grandfather Michael Fribourg sold our grain business, the question he cared most about was what would happen to the people. Being a people-first organization is part of Conti’s heritage and something that I want to carry with us for many decades to come. At Conti we strive for strong returns while we invest in people – our colleagues, partners and management teams we invest behind – to help them grow alongside the firm. Our long-term growth mindset and approach equally apply to talent and partners because they have helped make Conti successful for seven generations and continue to drive us forward.”
- Jordana Fribourg, Chief Talent Officer
Talent
“When my grandfather Michael Fribourg sold our grain business, the question he cared most about was what would happen to the people. Being a people-first organization is part of Conti’s heritage and something that I want to carry with us for many decades to come. At Conti we strive for strong returns while we invest in people – our colleagues, partners and management teams we invest behind – to help them grow alongside the firm. Our long-term growth mindset and approach equally apply to talent and partners because they have helped make Conti successful for seven generations and continue to drive us forward.”
- Jordana Fribourg, Chief Talent Officer
Integrity
“I joined Conti in 2019 and go into the market every day to identify businesses and teams with which to partner. What really stands out to me is how our values and long-term horizon influence how we work and partner. Once we make a commitment, we hold to it even when times get tough. In the food and agribusiness industry where deals used to be, and sometimes still are, done on words and handshakes rather than contracts, doing what’s right for our businesses and the people who work there still drives us today. Our long-term reputation is more important than any one individual deal or situation."
- Fritz von Guionneau, Co-head, Conti Direct Investments
Integrity
“I joined Conti in 2019 and go into the market every day to identify businesses and teams with which to partner. What really stands out to me is how our values and long-term horizon influence how we work and partner. Once we make a commitment, we hold to it even when times get tough. In the food and agribusiness industry where deals used to be, and sometimes still are, done on words and handshakes rather than contracts, doing what’s right for our businesses and the people who work there still drives us today. Our long-term reputation is more important than any one individual deal or situation."
- Fritz von Guionneau, Co-head, Conti Direct Investments
Join our team
We invite you to apply to one of our open roles! If you don't see a role that's right for you, please submit your résumé to the Talent Community, and we'll be in touch with future opportunities.
Join our team
We invite you to apply to one of our open roles! If you don't see a role that's right for you, please submit your résumé to the Talent Community, and we'll be in touch with future opportunities.
- Management
- Wayne-Sanderson Farms
- Board of Directors
- Conti Direct Investments
- Conti Ventures
- Conti Asia
- Operating Group
- Corporate
Management Team

Paul Fribourg* Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Ari Gendason* Chief Investment Officer
Ari Gendason is our Chief Investment Officer. Ari joined Conti in 2004 and has been involved in many of our investments in the food and agriculture sector over that time. He currently oversees a portfolio of both public and private food and ag investments. Prior to this role, he managed Arlon Opportunities Investors, an equities and commodities hedge fund backed by Conti. Before joining Conti, Ari worked in private equity and investment banking. Ari is a member of the Board of Directors of Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC, Restaurant Technologies, Hissho Sushi and Agile Cold Storage. Ari holds a BS and MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Robert Golden* Chief Strategy Officer
Robert (Bob) Golden is our Chief Strategy Officer. Bob joined Conti in 2019 after retiring from a nearly 30-year career at Anheuser-Busch/AB InBev with roles covering a range of responsibilities across M&A, strategic planning, procurement, treasury, and packaging operations. Following the combination of Anheuser-Busch and InBev, Bob took leadership of AB InBev’s global M&A program. Bob has served on several corporate boards and is currently a Director of Rotterdam-based Refresco, BV. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch in 1988, Bob worked in commercial and investment banking at Continental Bank (Chicago). He earned a BS from Illinois State University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Frank Baier* Chief Financial &
Administrative Officer
Frank Baier has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2012. Prior to joining Conti, Frank was Chief Financial Officer of North Jersey Community Bank. He has held senior financial executive roles at a variety of companies including Capital Access Network, Inc., Independence Community Bank, and ContiFinancial Corporation. He was also a consultant for Meridian Capital Group, LLC, and a partner at Columbia Financial Partners. Frank began his career at RJR Nabisco, Inc. in 1987. He is a Board Member of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting), Cum Laude, from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, and his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman
Charles Fribourg has served on our Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of our Management Committee. Earlier, Charles held several leading roles at Conti as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously worked in various merchandising positions throughout Conti’s domestic operations. Charles received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman
Michael Zimmerman is a member of our Board of Directors and serves as Conti’s Vice Chairman since 2012. Prior to taking on the role of Vice Chairman, Michael was our Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Investments and Strategy. Before joining Conti, Michael was a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers Inc. He also served on the Boards of a number of publicly-held agribusiness and commodity firms. Currently, he is a Director of Stifel Financial Corp. and of Castleton Commodities International. Active in many nonprofit organizations, he serves on the Board of Mount Sinai Health System, and is the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Michael Mayberry General Counsel
Michael R. Mayberry is our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Michael has worked for Conti since 1996 including his tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Associate General Counsel. Prior to that he worked as an associate in the New York offices of the law firms of Dewey Ballantine and Winston & Strawn. He received his juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon. He also holds an International Business Program diploma from Nijenrode, The Netherlands School of Business.

Nick Rosa Chairman, Conti International
Nick Rosa is our Chairman of Conti International. Nick has worked for Conti for over 40 years and served in a variety of positions both domestically and internationally. He joined Conti in 1975 as a trainee in the animal feed division and eventually became General Manager of the Wayne Feed Division in Chicago in 1995. He relocated to New York in 1997 as Vice President of Conti’s International Industries and in 2007, he was named Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Conti Asia, based in Beijing until 2020. Nick has served as Chairman and Director in several poultry, pork, food processing and feed companies in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. Nick received both his BS in Economics and his MBA from Arizona State University.
* Member of the Office of the CEO
Management Team

Paul Fribourg* Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Ari Gendason* Chief Investment Officer
Ari Gendason is our Chief Investment Officer. Ari joined Conti in 2004 and has been involved in many of our investments in the food and agriculture sector over that time. He currently oversees a portfolio of both public and private food and ag investments. Prior to this role, he managed Arlon Opportunities Investors, an equities and commodities hedge fund backed by Conti. Before joining Conti, Ari worked in private equity and investment banking. Ari is a member of the Board of Directors of Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC, Restaurant Technologies, Hissho Sushi and Agile Cold Storage. Ari holds a BS and MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Robert Golden* Chief Strategy Officer
Robert (Bob) Golden is our Chief Strategy Officer. Bob joined Conti in 2019 after retiring from a nearly 30-year career at Anheuser-Busch/AB InBev with roles covering a range of responsibilities across M&A, strategic planning, procurement, treasury, and packaging operations. Following the combination of Anheuser-Busch and InBev, Bob took leadership of AB InBev’s global M&A program. Bob has served on several corporate boards and is currently a Director of Rotterdam-based Refresco, BV. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch in 1988, Bob worked in commercial and investment banking at Continental Bank (Chicago). He earned a BS from Illinois State University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Frank Baier* Chief Financial &
Administrative Officer
Frank Baier has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2012. Prior to joining Conti, Frank was Chief Financial Officer of North Jersey Community Bank. He has held senior financial executive roles at a variety of companies including Capital Access Network, Inc., Independence Community Bank, and ContiFinancial Corporation. He was also a consultant for Meridian Capital Group, LLC, and a partner at Columbia Financial Partners. Frank began his career at RJR Nabisco, Inc. in 1987. He is a Board Member of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting), Cum Laude, from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, and his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman

Michael Mayberry General Counsel

Nick Rosa Chairman, Conti International
Frank Baier has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2012. Prior to joining Conti, Frank was Chief Financial Officer of North Jersey Community Bank. He has held senior financial executive roles at a variety of companies including Capital Access Network, Inc., Independence Community Bank, and ContiFinancial Corporation. He was also a consultant for Meridian Capital Group, LLC, and a partner at Columbia Financial Partners. Frank began his career at RJR Nabisco, Inc. in 1987. He is a Board Member of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting), Cum Laude, from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, and his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.
Charles Fribourg has served on our Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of our Management Committee. Earlier, Charles held several leading roles at Conti as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously worked in various merchandising positions throughout Conti’s domestic operations. Charles received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.
Michael Zimmerman is a member of our Board of Directors and serves as Conti’s Vice Chairman since 2012. Prior to taking on the role of Vice Chairman, Michael was our Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Investments and Strategy. Before joining Conti, Michael was a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers Inc. He also served on the Boards of a number of publicly-held agribusiness and commodity firms. Currently, he is a Director of Stifel Financial Corp. and of Castleton Commodities International. Active in many nonprofit organizations, he serves on the Board of Mount Sinai Health System, and is the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Michael R. Mayberry is our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Michael has worked for Conti since 1996 including his tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Associate General Counsel. Prior to that he worked as an associate in the New York offices of the law firms of Dewey Ballantine and Winston & Strawn. He received his juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon. He also holds an International Business Program diploma from Nijenrode, The Netherlands School of Business.
* Member of the Office of the CEO
Management Team

Paul Fribourg* Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Ari Gendason* Chief Investment Officer
Ari Gendason is our Chief Investment Officer. Ari joined Conti in 2004 and has been involved in many of our investments in the food and agriculture sector over that time. He currently oversees a portfolio of both public and private food and ag investments. Prior to this role, he managed Arlon Opportunities Investors, an equities and commodities hedge fund backed by Conti. Before joining Conti, Ari worked in private equity and investment banking. Ari is a member of the Board of Directors of Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC, Restaurant Technologies, Hissho Sushi and Agile Cold Storage. Ari holds a BS and MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Robert Golden* Chief Strategy Officer
Robert (Bob) Golden is our Chief Strategy Officer. Bob joined Conti in 2019 after retiring from a nearly 30-year career at Anheuser-Busch/AB InBev with roles covering a range of responsibilities across M&A, strategic planning, procurement, treasury, and packaging operations. Following the combination of Anheuser-Busch and InBev, Bob took leadership of AB InBev’s global M&A program. Bob has served on several corporate boards and is currently a Director of Rotterdam-based Refresco, BV. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch in 1988, Bob worked in commercial and investment banking at Continental Bank (Chicago). He earned a BS from Illinois State University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Frank Baier* Chief Financial &
Administrative Officer
Frank Baier has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2012. Prior to joining Conti, Frank was Chief Financial Officer of North Jersey Community Bank. He has held senior financial executive roles at a variety of companies including Capital Access Network, Inc., Independence Community Bank, and ContiFinancial Corporation. He was also a consultant for Meridian Capital Group, LLC, and a partner at Columbia Financial Partners. Frank began his career at RJR Nabisco, Inc. in 1987. He is a Board Member of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting), Cum Laude, from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, and his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman
Charles Fribourg has served on our Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of our Management Committee. Earlier, Charles held several leading roles at Conti as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously worked in various merchandising positions throughout Conti’s domestic operations. Charles received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman
Michael Zimmerman is a member of our Board of Directors and serves as Conti’s Vice Chairman since 2012. Prior to taking on the role of Vice Chairman, Michael was our Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Investments and Strategy. Before joining Conti, Michael was a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers Inc. He also served on the Boards of a number of publicly-held agribusiness and commodity firms. Currently, he is a Director of Stifel Financial Corp. and of Castleton Commodities International. Active in many nonprofit organizations, he serves on the Board of Mount Sinai Health System, and is the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Michael Mayberry General Counsel
Michael R. Mayberry is our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Michael has worked for Conti since 1996 including his tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Associate General Counsel. Prior to that he worked as an associate in the New York offices of the law firms of Dewey Ballantine and Winston & Strawn. He received his juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon. He also holds an International Business Program diploma from Nijenrode, The Netherlands School of Business.

Nick Rosa Chairman, Conti International
Nick Rosa is our Chairman of Conti International. Nick has worked for Conti for over 40 years and served in a variety of positions both domestically and internationally. He joined Conti in 1975 as a trainee in the animal feed division and eventually became General Manager of the Wayne Feed Division in Chicago in 1995. He relocated to New York in 1997 as Vice President of Conti’s International Industries and in 2007, he was named Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Conti Asia, based in Beijing until 2020. Nick has served as Chairman and Director in several poultry, pork, food processing and feed companies in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. Nick received both his BS in Economics and his MBA from Arizona State University.
* Member of the Office of the CEO
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Management Team

J. Clint Rivers President, CEO, and
Chairman of the Board
Clint Rivers is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Clint joined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2012 as Vice President and General Manager of the Fresh Business Unit. Clint was named Chief Operating Officer in 2014, President and CEO in 2017 and Chairman of the Board in 2020. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Clint served as President of Foodservice and Supply Chain with Perdue Farms, and in successive leadership roles with Pilgrim’s Pride including Chief Operating Officer, President and CEO. Clint earned a degree in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. An industry leader, he currently serves as Chairman of the National Chicken Council.

Courtney Fazekas Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Courtney Fazekas is Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2003, Courtney served in a variety of executive leadership and key financial management roles with Pepsi Cola International, Pepsi Bottling Group and Smith Barney, Harris Upham. Courtney holds a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his MBA from Columbia University School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. He’s a member of the finance committee for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Idaho Pacific Holdings.

Jeremy Kilburn Vice President & General Counsel
Jeremy V. Kilburn is Vice President and General Counsel for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, responsible for all legal aspects of the company’s operation. Jeremy rejoined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2015 after several years in private practice, assuming the role of Assistant Vice President and Deputy General Counsel before being named General Counsel in 2016. Jeremy earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of Missouri in Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural Economics and Chemistry and received his Masters Degree in Poultry Science and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. Jeremy served on the Walton County Board of Education for ten years, including two years as chairman of the board, guiding the 13,000 student-system through critical financial and organizational issues while leading implementation of programs that successfully improved student achievements.

Kevin McDaniel Chief Operating Officer
Kevin McDaniel is the Chief Operating Officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, overseeing fresh and prepared foods production, processing, and sales across eleven production facilities in five states. Kevin earned a BS in Agricultural Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and previously held several key positions with the Poultry Federation including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Member and was named the 2011 Federation Industry Man of the Year.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Management Team

J. Clint Rivers President, CEO, and
Chairman of the Board

Courtney Fazekas Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Jeremy Kilburn Vice President and General Counsel

Kevin McDaniel Chief Operating Officer
Clint Rivers is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Clint joined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2012 as Vice President and General Manager of the Fresh Business Unit. Clint was named Chief Operating Officer in 2014, President and CEO in 2017 and Chairman of the Board in 2020. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Clint served as President of Foodservice and Supply Chain with Perdue Farms, and in successive leadership roles with Pilgrim’s Pride including Chief Operating Officer, President and CEO. Clint earned a degree in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. An industry leader, he currently serves as Chairman of the National Chicken Council.
Courtney Fazekas is Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2003, Courtney served in a variety of executive leadership and key financial management roles with Pepsi Cola International, Pepsi Bottling Group and Smith Barney, Harris Upham. Courtney holds a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his MBA from Columbia University School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. He’s a member of the finance committee for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Idaho Pacific Holdings.
Jeremy V. Kilburn is Vice President and General Counsel for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, responsible for all legal aspects of the company’s operation. Jeremy rejoined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2015 after several years in private practice, assuming the role of Assistant Vice President and Deputy General Counsel before being named General Counsel in 2016. Jeremy earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of Missouri in Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural Economics and Chemistry and received his Masters Degree in Poultry Science and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. Jeremy served on the Walton County Board of Education for ten years, including two years as chairman of the board, guiding the 13,000 student-system through critical financial and organizational issues while leading implementation of programs that successfully improved student achievements.
Kevin McDaniel is the Chief Operating Officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, overseeing fresh and prepared foods production, processing, and sales across eleven production facilities in five states. Kevin earned a BS in Agricultural Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and previously held several key positions with the Poultry Federation including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Member and was named the 2011 Federation Industry Man of the Year.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Management Team

J. Clint Rivers President, CEO, and
Chairman of the Board
Clint Rivers is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Clint joined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2012 as Vice President and General Manager of the Fresh Business Unit. Clint was named Chief Operating Officer in 2014, President and CEO in 2017 and Chairman of the Board in 2020. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Clint served as President of Foodservice and Supply Chain with Perdue Farms, and in successive leadership roles with Pilgrim’s Pride including Chief Operating Officer, President and CEO. Clint earned a degree in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. An industry leader, he currently serves as Chairman of the National Chicken Council.

Courtney Fazekas Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Courtney Fazekas is Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Prior to joining Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2003, Courtney served in a variety of executive leadership and key financial management roles with Pepsi Cola International, Pepsi Bottling Group and Smith Barney, Harris Upham. Courtney holds a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his MBA from Columbia University School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. He’s a member of the finance committee for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Idaho Pacific Holdings.

Jeremy Kilburn Vice President and General Counsel
Jeremy V. Kilburn is Vice President and General Counsel for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, responsible for all legal aspects of the company’s operation. Jeremy rejoined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2015 after several years in private practice, assuming the role of Assistant Vice President and Deputy General Counsel before being named General Counsel in 2016. Jeremy earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of Missouri in Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural Economics and Chemistry and received his Masters Degree in Poultry Science and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. Jeremy served on the Walton County Board of Education for ten years, including two years as chairman of the board, guiding the 13,000 student-system through critical financial and organizational issues while leading implementation of programs that successfully improved student achievements.

Kevin McDaniel Chief Operating Officer
Kevin McDaniel is the Chief Operating Officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, overseeing fresh and prepared foods production, processing, and sales across eleven production facilities in five states. Kevin earned a BS in Agricultural Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and previously held several key positions with the Poultry Federation including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Member and was named the 2011 Federation Industry Man of the Year.
Board of Directors

Paul Fribourg Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Sabine Chalmers General Counsel, BT Group
Sabine Chalmers is the General Counsel of BT Group, a leading multinational telecommunications company. Prior to joining BT, she was the Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer and Secretary to the Board of Directors of AB InBev, a role she held from 2005 to 2017. Sabine joined AB InBev after 12 years with Diageo, where she held a number of senior legal positions including as General Counsel of the Latin American and North American businesses. Prior to Diageo, she was an associate at the law firm of Lovell White Durrant in London specializing in mergers and acquisitions. She is a member of the Board of Directors of AB InBev.

Alan Fishman Chairman, Ladder Capital
Financial Holdings LLLP
Alan Fishman has had a distinguished career in the banking industry. He is currently the Chairman of Ladder Capital Finance Corporation. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Washington Mutual Bank. During 2007 and 2008, he served as Chairman of Meridian Capital Group and prior to joining Meridian, he was President of Sovereign Bank. He assumed the leadership of Independence Community Bank when he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2001.
Mr. Fishman has been an active leader in many not-for-profit activities in Brooklyn. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also served as Chairman of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and as Co-Chairman of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is the successor institution to the Independence Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is Brooklyn’s only Foundation focusing exclusively on the Borough. Mr. Fishman serves on the Boards of several private companies and other not-for-profit and civic organizations. A lifelong Brooklynite, he was educated in the public schools graduating from Erasmus Hall High School. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics and received a master’s degree in Economics from Columbia University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman
Charles Fribourg has served as a Member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of the Management Committee. He has served as Directeur General of Arlon Group (Europe) S.A., in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1999. Earlier, Mr. Fribourg served the Company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously held various merchandising positions throughout the Company’s domestic operations. Mr. Fribourg received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Jim Manzi Former Chairman, Thermo Fisher Scientific; and Former Chairman, President, and CEO of Lotus Development
Jim Manzi has been a director of ThermoFisher Scientific since May 2000. He had formerly served as chairman from 2004 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2020. Mr. Manzi is founder and Chairman of Stonegate Capital, a firm that manages private equity investment activities in technology startup ventures. Previously, he served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Development Corporation, a software manufacturer that was acquired by IBM Corporation in 1995. He serves as Chairman of the Board and director for Skyword, Inc., and is a director of Freshdirect, Cargometrics, Elysium Health, CloverFood Lab and Paxos Technology Solutions, LLC.

Gerald Rosenfeld Vice Chairman - US Investment Banking, Lazard Ltd
Gerald Rosenfeld is Senior Advisor to the CEO and is Vice Chairman of U.S. Investment Banking of Lazard. Prior to rejoining Lazard in 2011, he spent 11 years at Rothschild North America as its CEO and, after stepping down from that position, as its Deputy Chairman. Mr. Rosenfeld initially joined Lazard in 1992 and served as a General Partner, Managing Director and Head of US Investment Banking. Prior to Lazard he held significant management positions at Bankers Trust Company, Salomon Inc. and its Salomon Brothers subsidiary, and McKinsey & Company.
Mr. Rosenfeld has worked as a strategic and M&A advisor in the industrial and technology sectors, including representation of General Motors, Chrysler, United Technologies, ITT Corporation, Tenneco, TRW, Lucas Varity PLC, Case Corporation, Lotus Corp. in its acquisition by IBM, and recently as advisor to Dow in its proposed merger with DuPont. He has also worked on many airline transactions including for United Airlines, TWA, US Airways, and Northwest Airlines. Mr. Rosenfeld has worked on corporate restructuring assignments for, among others, TWA, United Airlines, Delphi Corporation, Gaylord Container, the Chicago Sun-Times, and AIG.
Early in his career, Mr. Rosenfeld was a member of the faculty of the City College of New York, New York University, and the University of Maryland.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of CIT Group. In the non-profit sector, he serves on the Boards of The City College Foundation and The Charles H. Revson Foundation. Mr. Rosenfeld holds a Ph.D. in applied Mathematics from New York University. He is a Professor of Practice at New York University School of Law and a member of its Board of Trustees. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Stephen Volk Vice Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Stephen R. Volk is Vice Chairman of Citi and Chairman of Citi’s Institutional Clients Group. Mr. Volk joined Citi in September 2004. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston, where he worked closely with their CEO on the strategic management of the firm and on key client matters. He was also a member of the Credit Suisse Group Management Board. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in August 2001 from Shearman & Sterling, a New York-based law firm, where he had been Senior Partner since 1991. While at Shearman & Sterling, Mr. Volk, a leading mergers and acquisitions lawyer, was counsel to a number of corporations, including Citicorp.
He joined Shearman & Sterling in 1960 after graduating from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and became a Partner in 1968.
Mr. Volk is a member of the Supervisory Board of Bank Handlowy. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman
Paul J. Fribourg is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Grain Company, an international agribusiness and investment company. Prior to assuming the helm of one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer.
Paul Fribourg serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., a Board Member of Restaurant Brands International Inc., a Board Member of Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and a Board Member of Bunge Limited. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of Wayne Farms LLC, a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Member of the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and a Member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Mr. Fribourg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Sally Grimes Board Member
Sally Grimes has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2022. She most recently served as CEO of Clif Bar & Co, from May 2020 to March 2023 when Clif Bar was acquired by Mondelez International. Prior to joining Clif Bar, Sally was Group President of Prepared Foods for Tyson Foods, responsible for more than $10 billion of the company’s revenue and 35,000 team members. Sally previously served as Chief Global Growth Officer and President of International for the company, joining Tyson with the acquisition of The Hillshire Brands Company in 2014 where she served as Chief Innovation Officer. Sally started her career at Kraft Foods, spending 10 years in brand management, and then transitioned to lead the global expansion and digital transformation of the Writing Global Business Unit at Newell Rubbermaid. Sally has been recognized by leading business publications including being named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women to Watch and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She has also been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and by Crain’s as one of The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business. Sally also serves on the Board of Directors of Beyond Meat, Silver Oak Winery and the Midtown Educational Foundation. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Erik Fyrwald Advisor to the Board
Erik Fyrwald joined the Syngenta Group, one of the world’s leading
agriculture companies, in June 2016 as Chief Executive Officer.
Erik Fyrwald served as chief executive officer of Univar, a leading distributor of chemistry and related services, from May 2012 until May 2016. In 2008, following a 27-year career at DuPont, he joined the Nalco Company, a leading water treatment products and services company, serving as chairman and chief executive officer until December 2011, when Nalco merged with Ecolab Inc. Following the merger, Erik Fyrwald served as president of Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene, and energy technologies.
From 2003 to 2008, Erik Fyrwald served as group vice president of the agriculture and nutrition division at the DuPont Company. From 2000 until 2003, he was vice president and general manager of DuPont’s nutrition and health business.
Erik Fyrwald attended the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1981. He also completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
Erik Fyrwald serves on the boards of directors of Syngenta Group, Bunge, Eli Lilly, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the UN World Food Program Farm to Market Initiative. He is also Chairman of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and CropLife International.
Board of Directors

Paul Fribourg Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Sabine Chalmers General Counsel, BT Group
Sabine Chalmers is the General Counsel of BT Group, a leading multinational telecommunications company. Prior to joining BT, she was the Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer and Secretary to the Board of Directors of AB InBev, a role she held from 2005 to 2017. Sabine joined AB InBev after 12 years with Diageo, where she held a number of senior legal positions including as General Counsel of the Latin American and North American businesses. Prior to Diageo, she was an associate at the law firm of Lovell White Durrant in London specializing in mergers and acquisitions. She is a member of the Board of Directors of AB InBev.

Alan Fishman Chairman, Ladder Capital, Financial Holdings LLLP
Alan Fishman has had a distinguished career in the banking industry. He is currently the Chairman of Ladder Capital Finance Corporation. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Washington Mutual Bank. During 2007 and 2008, he served as Chairman of Meridian Capital Group and prior to joining Meridian, he was President of Sovereign Bank. He assumed the leadership of Independence Community Bank when he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2001.
Mr. Fishman has been an active leader in many not-for-profit activities in Brooklyn. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also served as Chairman of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and as Co-Chairman of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is the successor institution to the Independence Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is Brooklyn’s only Foundation focusing exclusively on the Borough. Mr. Fishman serves on the Boards of several private companies and other not-for-profit and civic organizations. A lifelong Brooklynite, he was educated in the public schools graduating from Erasmus Hall High School. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics and received a master’s degree in Economics from Columbia University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman
Charles Fribourg has served as a Member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of the Management Committee. He has served as Directeur General of Arlon Group (Europe) S.A., in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1999. Earlier, Mr. Fribourg served the Company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously held various merchandising positions throughout the Company’s domestic operations. Mr. Fribourg received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Jim Manzi Former Chairman, Thermo Fisher Scientific; and Former Chairman, President, and CEO of Lotus Development
Jim Manzi has been a director of ThermoFisher Scientific since May 2000. He had formerly served as chairman from 2004 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2020. Mr. Manzi is founder and Chairman of Stonegate Capital, a firm that manages private equity investment activities in technology startup ventures. Previously, he served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Development Corporation, a software manufacturer that was acquired by IBM Corporation in 1995. He serves as Chairman of the Board and director for Skyword, Inc., and is a director of Freshdirect, Cargometrics, Elysium Health, CloverFood Lab and Paxos Technology Solutions, LLC.

Gerald Rosenfeld Vice Chairman - US Investment Banking, Lazard Ltd
Gerald Rosenfeld is Senior Advisor to the CEO and is Vice Chairman of U.S. Investment Banking of Lazard. Prior to rejoining Lazard in 2011, he spent 11 years at Rothschild North America as its CEO and, after stepping down from that position, as its Deputy Chairman. Mr. Rosenfeld initially joined Lazard in 1992 and served as a General Partner, Managing Director and Head of US Investment Banking. Prior to Lazard he held significant management positions at Bankers Trust Company, Salomon Inc. and its Salomon Brothers subsidiary, and McKinsey & Company.
Mr. Rosenfeld has worked as a strategic and M&A advisor in the industrial and technology sectors, including representation of General Motors, Chrysler, United Technologies, ITT Corporation, Tenneco, TRW, Lucas Varity PLC, Case Corporation, Lotus Corp. in its acquisition by IBM, and recently as advisor to Dow in its proposed merger with DuPont. He has also worked on many airline transactions including for United Airlines, TWA, US Airways, and Northwest Airlines. Mr. Rosenfeld has worked on corporate restructuring assignments for, among others, TWA, United Airlines, Delphi Corporation, Gaylord Container, the Chicago Sun-Times, and AIG.
Early in his career, Mr. Rosenfeld was a member of the faculty of the City College of New York, New York University, and the University of Maryland.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of CIT Group. In the non-profit sector, he serves on the Boards of The City College Foundation and The Charles H. Revson Foundation. Mr. Rosenfeld holds a Ph.D. in applied Mathematics from New York University. He is a Professor of Practice at New York University School of Law and a member of its Board of Trustees. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Stephen Volk Vice Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Stephen R. Volk is Vice Chairman of Citi and Chairman of Citi’s Institutional Clients Group. Mr. Volk joined Citi in September 2004. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston, where he worked closely with their CEO on the strategic management of the firm and on key client matters. He was also a member of the Credit Suisse Group Management Board. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in August 2001 from Shearman & Sterling, a New York-based law firm, where he had been Senior Partner since 1991. While at Shearman & Sterling, Mr. Volk, a leading mergers and acquisitions lawyer, was counsel to a number of corporations, including Citicorp.
He joined Shearman & Sterling in 1960 after graduating from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and became a Partner in 1968.
Mr. Volk is a member of the Supervisory Board of Bank Handlowy. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman
Paul J. Fribourg is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Grain Company, an international agribusiness and investment company. Prior to assuming the helm of one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer.
Paul Fribourg serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., a Board Member of Restaurant Brands International Inc., a Board Member of Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and a Board Member of Bunge Limited. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of Wayne Farms LLC, a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Member of the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and a Member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Mr. Fribourg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Sally Grimes Board Member
Sally Grimes has served as a member of our boarad of directors since November 2022. She most recently served as CEO of Clif Bar & Co, from May 2020 to March 2023 when Clif Bar was acquired by Mondelez International. Prior to joining Clif Bar, Sally was Group President of Prepared Foods for Tyson Foods, responsible for more than $10 billion of the company’s revenue and 35,000 team members. Sally previously served as Chief Global Growth Officer and President of International for the company, joining Tyson with the acquisition of The Hillshire Brands Company in 2014 where she served as Chief Innovation Officer. Sally started her career at Kraft Foods, spending 10 years in brand management, and then transitioned to lead the global expansion and digital transformation of the Writing Global Business Unit at Newell Rubbermaid. Sally has been recognized by leading business publications including being named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women to Watch and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She has also been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and by Crain’s as one of The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business. Sally also serves on the Board of Directors of Beyond Meat, Silver Oak Winery and the Midtown Educational Foundation. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Erik Fyrwald Advisor to the Board
Erik Fyrwald joined the Syngenta Group, one of the world’s leading
agriculture companies, in June 2016 as Chief Executive Officer.
Erik Fyrwald served as chief executive officer of Univar, a leading distributor of chemistry and related services, from May 2012 until May 2016. In 2008, following a 27-year career at DuPont, he joined the Nalco Company, a leading water treatment products and services company, serving as chairman and chief executive officer until December 2011, when Nalco merged with Ecolab Inc. Following the merger, Erik Fyrwald served as president of Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene, and energy technologies.
From 2003 to 2008, Erik Fyrwald served as group vice president of the agriculture and nutrition division at the DuPont Company. From 2000 until 2003, he was vice president and general manager of DuPont’s nutrition and health business.
Erik Fyrwald attended the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1981. He also completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
Erik Fyrwald serves on the boards of directors of Syngenta Group, Bunge, Eli Lilly, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the UN World Food Program Farm to Market Initiative. He is also Chairman of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and CropLife International.
Paul J. Fribourg is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking the helm of Conti, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer. Paul serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, and as a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Board of Directors

Paul Fribourg Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Sabine Chalmers General Counsel, BT Group
Sabine Chalmers is the General Counsel of BT Group, a leading multinational telecommunications company. Prior to joining BT, she was the Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer and Secretary to the Board of Directors of AB InBev, a role she held from 2005 to 2017. Sabine joined AB InBev after 12 years with Diageo, where she held a number of senior legal positions including as General Counsel of the Latin American and North American businesses. Prior to Diageo, she was an associate at the law firm of Lovell White Durrant in London specializing in mergers and acquisitions. She is a member of the Board of Directors of AB InBev.

Alan Fishman Chairman, Ladder Capital
Financial Holdings LLLP
Alan Fishman has had a distinguished career in the banking industry. He is currently the Chairman of Ladder Capital Finance Corporation. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Washington Mutual Bank. During 2007 and 2008, he served as Chairman of Meridian Capital Group and prior to joining Meridian, he was President of Sovereign Bank. He assumed the leadership of Independence Community Bank when he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2001.
Mr. Fishman has been an active leader in many not-for-profit activities in Brooklyn. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also served as Chairman of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and as Co-Chairman of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is the successor institution to the Independence Community Foundation. The Brooklyn Community Foundation is Brooklyn’s only Foundation focusing exclusively on the Borough. Mr. Fishman serves on the Boards of several private companies and other not-for-profit and civic organizations. A lifelong Brooklynite, he was educated in the public schools graduating from Erasmus Hall High School. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics and received a master’s degree in Economics from Columbia University.

Charles Fribourg Vice Chairman
Charles Fribourg has served as a Member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2001 and is a member of the Management Committee. He has served as Directeur General of Arlon Group (Europe) S.A., in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1999. Earlier, Mr. Fribourg served the Company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Latin American Division, General Manager EEC, Europe, Product Manager International for Meals/Derivatives, Merchandising Manager International for Proteins/Derivatives, Commercial Manager for France, and previously held various merchandising positions throughout the Company’s domestic operations. Mr. Fribourg received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Connecticut College and his Advanced Management degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Jim Manzi Former Chairman, Thermo Fisher Scientific; and Former Chairman, President, and CEO of Lotus Development
Jim Manzi has been a director of ThermoFisher Scientific since May 2000. He had formerly served as chairman from 2004 to 2006, and from 2007 to 2020. Mr. Manzi is founder and Chairman of Stonegate Capital, a firm that manages private equity investment activities in technology startup ventures. Previously, he served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Development Corporation, a software manufacturer that was acquired by IBM Corporation in 1995. He serves as Chairman of the Board and director for Skyword, Inc., and is a director of Freshdirect, Cargometrics, Elysium Health, CloverFood Lab and Paxos Technology Solutions, LLC.

Gerald Rosenfeld Vice Chairman - US Investment Banking, Lazard Ltd
Gerald Rosenfeld is Senior Advisor to the CEO and is Vice Chairman of U.S. Investment Banking of Lazard. Prior to rejoining Lazard in 2011, he spent 11 years at Rothschild North America as its CEO and, after stepping down from that position, as its Deputy Chairman. Mr. Rosenfeld initially joined Lazard in 1992 and served as a General Partner, Managing Director and Head of US Investment Banking. Prior to Lazard he held significant management positions at Bankers Trust Company, Salomon Inc. and its Salomon Brothers subsidiary, and McKinsey & Company.
Mr. Rosenfeld has worked as a strategic and M&A advisor in the industrial and technology sectors, including representation of General Motors, Chrysler, United Technologies, ITT Corporation, Tenneco, TRW, Lucas Varity PLC, Case Corporation, Lotus Corp. in its acquisition by IBM, and recently as advisor to Dow in its proposed merger with DuPont. He has also worked on many airline transactions including for United Airlines, TWA, US Airways, and Northwest Airlines. Mr. Rosenfeld has worked on corporate restructuring assignments for, among others, TWA, United Airlines, Delphi Corporation, Gaylord Container, the Chicago Sun-Times, and AIG.
Early in his career, Mr. Rosenfeld was a member of the faculty of the City College of New York, New York University, and the University of Maryland.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of CIT Group. In the non-profit sector, he serves on the Boards of The City College Foundation and The Charles H. Revson Foundation. Mr. Rosenfeld holds a Ph.D. in applied Mathematics from New York University. He is a Professor of Practice at New York University School of Law and a member of its Board of Trustees. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Stephen Volk Vice Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Stephen R. Volk is Vice Chairman of Citi and Chairman of Citi’s Institutional Clients Group. Mr. Volk joined Citi in September 2004. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston, where he worked closely with their CEO on the strategic management of the firm and on key client matters. He was also a member of the Credit Suisse Group Management Board. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in August 2001 from Shearman & Sterling, a New York-based law firm, where he had been Senior Partner since 1991. While at Shearman & Sterling, Mr. Volk, a leading mergers and acquisitions lawyer, was counsel to a number of corporations, including Citicorp.
He joined Shearman & Sterling in 1960 after graduating from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and became a Partner in 1968.
Mr. Volk is a member of the Supervisory Board of Bank Handlowy. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Michael Zimmerman Vice Chairman
Paul J. Fribourg is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Grain Company, an international agribusiness and investment company. Prior to assuming the helm of one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States, he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility—from Merchandiser and Product Line Manager to Group President and Chief Operating Officer.
Paul Fribourg serves as the Lead Independent Director of Loews Corporation, a Board Member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., a Board Member of Restaurant Brands International Inc., a Board Member of Syngenta Group Co., Ltd., and a Board Member of Bunge Limited. He is also a Member of the Rabobank International North American Agribusiness Advisory Board. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of Wayne Farms LLC, a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Member of the Temasek Americas Advisory Panel, and a Member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai. Mr. Fribourg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Sally Grimes Board Member
Sally Grimes has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2022. She most recently served as CEO of Clif Bar & Co, from May 2020 to March 2023 when Clif Bar was acquired by Mondelez International. Prior to joining Clif Bar, Sally was Group President of Prepared Foods for Tyson Foods, responsible for more than $10 billion of the company’s revenue and 35,000 team members. Sally previously served as Chief Global Growth Officer and President of International for the company, joining Tyson with the acquisition of The Hillshire Brands Company in 2014 where she served as Chief Innovation Officer. Sally started her career at Kraft Foods, spending 10 years in brand management, and then transitioned to lead the global expansion and digital transformation of the Writing Global Business Unit at Newell Rubbermaid. Sally has been recognized by leading business publications including being named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women to Watch and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She has also been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and by Crain’s as one of The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business. Sally also serves on the Board of Directors of Beyond Meat, Silver Oak Winery and the Midtown Educational Foundation. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Erik Fyrwald Advisor to the Board
Erik Fyrwald joined the Syngenta Group, one of the world’s leading
agriculture companies, in June 2016 as Chief Executive Officer.
Erik Fyrwald served as chief executive officer of Univar, a leading distributor of chemistry and related services, from May 2012 until May 2016. In 2008, following a 27-year career at DuPont, he joined the Nalco Company, a leading water treatment products and services company, serving as chairman and chief executive officer until December 2011, when Nalco merged with Ecolab Inc. Following the merger, Erik Fyrwald served as president of Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene, and energy technologies.
From 2003 to 2008, Erik Fyrwald served as group vice president of the agriculture and nutrition division at the DuPont Company. From 2000 until 2003, he was vice president and general manager of DuPont’s nutrition and health business.
Erik Fyrwald attended the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1981. He also completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
Erik Fyrwald serves on the boards of directors of Syngenta Group, Bunge, Eli Lilly, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the UN World Food Program Farm to Market Initiative. He is also Chairman of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and CropLife International.
Conti Direct Investments Team

Carlos Poblete Co-Head
Carlos has been with Conti since 2016 and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Previously, Carlos spent 2 years leading Conti’s origination and deal management in the region, and 3 years with the Conti Corporate Investments team focusing on global private equity transactions. He started his career in the investment banking division of BTG Pactual in Chile (previously Celfin Capital) where he was involved in M&A and ECM transactions in the Andean region. Later, he joined the Chilean Government, where he served as Advisor to the President in finance, mining and social development affairs. Carlos received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Carlos serves on the Board of Directors for Multifoods and Agroberries.

Ignacio Sanz Co-Head
Ignacio Sanz joined Continental Grain Company in 2019, and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Prior to joining Conti, Ignacio was a principal at Australis Partners, a middle-market Latin American private equity fund. At Australis, Ignacio was involved in the acquisition and management of investments in the retail, foodservice and healthcare sectors. He started his career at Citigroup’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin American clients across a broad range of industries. Later, he joined Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI) where he was involved in acquisition, management and realization of several CVCI’s Latin American investments. Ignacio holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires.
Ignacio serves on several boards including Multifoods, Agroberries, and Moderna.

Fritz von Guionneau Co-Head
Fritz has been with Conti since 2019. Prior to Conti, Fritz worked in private equity at Berkshire Partners focusing on investments in technology, consumer retail and healthcare as well as working with portfolio company management teams. He began his career at Bain & Company in its London and San Francisco offices. Fritz received his BA from the University of Oxford and his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.

Ryan Oksenhendler Principal, Corporate Investments
Ryan Oksenhendler has been with Continental Grain Company since 2014. From 2005-2014, Ryan was a sell side analyst for Bank of America Merrill Lynch covering the Agribusiness, Packaged Food and Tobacco sectors. Prior to this, Ryan worked in the finance department for US Trust from 2003-2005. Ryan received his BS in Finance from Indiana University.

Guillermo Garrido-Lecca Vice President
Guillermo has been with Continental Grain Company since 2019. He started his career in the Investment Banking Division of Credicorp Capital in Peru where he was involved in executing M&A transactions in the Andean Region. Later, he joined the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse in New York where he was involved in M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in Latin America (2014-2017). Guillermo received his BA in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico (Peru) and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Maximiliano Astruc Vice President
Maximiliano has been with Conti since 2019. Previously, Max worked as an Associate Director at UBS on the Mergers and Acquisitions team, focusing on Consumer Products & Retail, Industrial and Real Estate sectors. Max received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Mathematics from Georgetown University.

Marcelo Deschamps Vice President
Marcelo joined the Conti team in 2022 as a Senior Associate on the North America Direct Investments team. Previously, Marcelo was an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Consumer Retail Group. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Marcelo worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Itau BBA where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin America Ex-Brazil. Marcelo received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Tecnologica Nacional (Argentina) and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Ani Sefaj Senior Associate
Ani Sefaj has been with Continental Grain Company since 2018. Prior to joining the Corporate Investments team, Ani worked at Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets, focusing on private equity investments in transportation and communications across North America. Previously, Ani worked at Atlas Holdings, a special situations private equity firm, and Ellington Management Group, a quantitative investment firm. Ani received a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale University.

Nicolas Guzman Associate, Direct Investments
Nicolas has been with Continental Grain Company since 2021. Previously, Nicolas worked as an Associate in the investment banking division of Credicorp Capital in Chile, where he was involved in executing M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in the Andean Region. Nicolás received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Hunter Whitney Associate, Direct Investments
Hunter joined the Direct Investments team as an Associate in 2023. Previously, he was as an Analyst within Guggenheim Securities’ Industrials Coverage group, where he focused on both M&A transactions and capital raises. Hunter began his career performing process management consulting services and valuations in Deloitte’s Tangible Asset Valuation practice. Hunter received a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Guilherme Franco Senior Associate
Arlon Latin America Partners
Guilherme Franco has been ALAP since 2020. Prior to joining, Guilherme was part of the investment banking team at BR Partners, a leading Brazilian independent investment bank focused on financial advisory in mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked at Estáter, a Brazilian M&A and restructuring boutique, and Itaú BBA. He received his BS in Mechatronics Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo and his MS in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. Guilherme is a CFA Charter holder since 2019. Guilherme is a Brazilian national and is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Felipe Piffer Junior Analyst,
Arlon Latin America Partners (ALAP)
Felipe has been with Conti since 2022. Previously to joining the investment team, Felipe worked in a Search Fund called Tractus. Felipe received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Michael Fribourg Head of 1813
Michael Fribourg has been with Continental Grain Company since 2019, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as a Senior Associate working on value creation across Arlon’s portfolio. Today, Michael is leading 1813, the office of the Fribourg family, and is focused on making investments outside of the food and ag space.
Prior to joining Conti, Michael was a senior associate at private equity firm, Garnett Station Partners, focused on the restaurant, consumer, and franchising sectors. Before that, Michael was a marketing coordinator at Peet’s Coffee, and prior to that was a freight analyst at Castleton Commodities. Michael received his BA from New York University, and his MBA from NYU Stern.
Conti Direct Investments Team

Carlos Poblete Co-Head

Ignacio Sanz Co-Head

Fritz von Guionneau Co-Head

Ryan Oksenhendler Principal
Corporate Investments
Carlos has been with Conti since 2016 and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Previously, Carlos spent 2 years leading Conti’s origination and deal management in the region, and 3 years with the Conti Corporate Investments team focusing on global private equity transactions. He started his career in the investment banking division of BTG Pactual in Chile (previously Celfin Capital) where he was involved in M&A and ECM transactions in the Andean region. Later, he joined the Chilean Government, where he served as Advisor to the President in finance, mining and social development affairs. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Multifoods. Carlos received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Carlos serves on the Board of Directors for Multifoods and Agroberries.
Ignacio Sanz joined Continental Grain Company in 2019, and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Prior to joining Conti, Ignacio was a principal at Australis Partners, a middle-market Latin American private equity fund. At Australis, Ignacio was involved in the acquisition and management of investments in the retail, foodservice and healthcare sectors. He started his career at Citigroup’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin American clients across a broad range of industries. Later, he joined Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI) where he was involved in acquisition, management and realization of several CVCI’s Latin American investments. Ignacio holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires.
Ignacio serves on several boards including Multifoods, Agroberries, and Moderna.
Fritz has been with Conti since 2019. Prior to Conti, Fritz worked in private equity at Berkshire Partners focusing on investments in technology, consumer retail and healthcare as well as working with portfolio company management teams. He began his career at Bain & Company in its London and San Francisco offices. Fritz received his BA from the University of Oxford and his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.
Ryan Oksenhendler has been with Continental Grain Company since 2014. From 2005-2014, Ryan was a sell side analyst for Bank of America Merrill Lynch covering the Agribusiness, Packaged Food and Tobacco sectors. Prior to this, Ryan worked in the finance department for US Trust from 2003-2005. Ryan received his BS in Finance from Indiana University.

Guillermo Garrido-Lecca Vice President

Maximiliano Astruc Vice President

Marcelo Deschamps Vice President

Ani Sefaj Senior Associate
Maximiliano has been with Conti since 2019. Previously, Max worked as an Associate Director at UBS on the Mergers and Acquisitions team, focusing on Consumer Products & Retail, Industrial and Real Estate sectors. Max received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Mathematics from Georgetown University.
Marcelo joined the Conti team in 2022 as a Senior Associate on the North America Direct Investments team. Previously, Marcelo was an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Consumer Retail Group. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Marcelo worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Itau BBA where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin America Ex-Brazil. Marcelo received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Tecnologica Nacional (Argentina) and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Ani Sefaj has been with Continental Grain Company since 2018. Prior to joining the Corporate Investments team, Ani worked at Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets, focusing on private equity investments in transportation and communications across North America. Previously, Ani worked at Atlas Holdings, a special situations private equity firm, and Ellington Management Group, a quantitative investment firm. Ani received a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale University.
Nicolas has been with Continental Grain Company since 2021. Previously, Nicolas worked as an Associate in the investment banking division of Credicorp Capital in Chile, where he was involved in executing M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in the Andean Region. Nicolás received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Nicolas Guzman Advisor, Arlon Latin American Partners

Hunter Whitney Associate, Direct Investments

Guilherme Franco Senior Associate
Arlon Latin America Partners

Felipe Piffer Junior Analyst,
Arlon Latin America Partners (ALAP)
Nicolas has been with Continental Grain Company since 2021. Previously, Nicolas worked as an Associate in the investment banking division of Credicorp Capital in Chile, where he was involved in executing M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in the Andean Region. Nicolás received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
Hunter joined the Direct Investments team as an Associate in 2023. Previously, he was as an Analyst within Guggenheim Securities’ Industrials Coverage group, where he focused on both M&A transactions and capital raises. Hunter began his career performing process management consulting services and valuations in Deloitte’s Tangible Asset Valuation practice. Hunter received a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.
Guilherme Franco has been ALAP since 2020. Prior to joining, Guilherme was part of the investment banking team at BR Partners, a leading Brazilian independent investment bank focused on financial advisory in mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked at Estáter, a Brazilian M&A and restructuring boutique, and Itaú BBA. He received his BS in Mechatronics Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo and his MS in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. Guilherme is a CFA Charter holder since 2019. Guilherme is a Brazilian national and is fluent in Portuguese and English.
Felipe has been with Conti since 2022. Previously to joining the investment team, Felipe worked in a Search Fund called Tractus. Felipe received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Michael Fribourg Head of 1813
Michael Fribourg has been with Continental Grain Company since 2019, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as a Senior Associate working on value creation across Arlon’s portfolio. Today, Michael is leading 1813, the office of the Fribourg family, and is focused on making investments outside of the food and ag space.
Prior to joining Conti, Michael was a senior associate at private equity firm, Garnett Station Partners, focused on the restaurant, consumer, and franchising sectors. Before that, Michael was a marketing coordinator at Peet’s Coffee, and prior to that was a freight analyst at Castleton Commodities. Michael received his BA from New York University, and his MBA from NYU Stern.
Conti Direct Investments Team

Carlos Poblete Co-Head
Carlos has been with Conti since 2016 and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Previously, Carlos spent 2 years leading Conti’s origination and deal management in the region, and 3 years with the Conti Corporate Investments team focusing on global private equity transactions. He started his career in the investment banking division of BTG Pactual in Chile (previously Celfin Capital) where he was involved in M&A and ECM transactions in the Andean region. Later, he joined the Chilean Government, where he served as Advisor to the President in finance, mining and social development affairs. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Multifoods. Carlos received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Carlos serves on the Board of Directors for Multifoods and Agroberries.

Ignacio Sanz Co-Head
Ignacio Sanz joined Continental Grain Company in 2019, and serves as Principal of Conti Direct Investments. Prior to joining Conti, Ignacio was a principal at Australis Partners, a middle-market Latin American private equity fund. At Australis, Ignacio was involved in the acquisition and management of investments in the retail, foodservice and healthcare sectors. He started his career at Citigroup’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin American clients across a broad range of industries. Later, he joined Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI) where he was involved in acquisition, management and realization of several CVCI’s Latin American investments. Ignacio holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires.
Ignacio serves on several boards including Multifoods, Agroberries, and Moderna.

Fritz von Guionneau Co-Head
Fritz has been with Conti since 2019. Prior to Conti, Fritz worked in private equity at Berkshire Partners focusing on investments in technology, consumer retail and healthcare as well as working with portfolio company management teams. He began his career at Bain & Company in its London and San Francisco offices. Fritz received his BA from the University of Oxford and his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.

Ryan Oksenhendler Principal, Corporate Investments
Ryan Oksenhendler has been with Continental Grain Company since 2014. From 2005-2014, Ryan was a sell side analyst for Bank of America Merrill Lynch covering the Agribusiness, Packaged Food and Tobacco sectors. Prior to this, Ryan worked in the finance department for US Trust from 2003-2005. Ryan received his BS in Finance from Indiana University.

Guillermo Garrido-Lecca Vice President
Guillermo has been with Continental Grain Company since 2019. He started his career in the Investment Banking Division of Credicorp Capital in Peru where he was involved in executing M&A transactions in the Andean Region. Later, he joined the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse in New York where he was involved in M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in Latin America (2014-2017). Guillermo received his BA in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico (Peru) and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Maximiliano Astruc Vice President
Maximiliano has been with Conti since 2019. Previously, Max worked as an Associate Director at UBS on the Mergers and Acquisitions team, focusing on Consumer Products & Retail, Industrial and Real Estate sectors. Max received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Mathematics from Georgetown University.

Marcelo Deschamps Vice President
Marcelo joined the Conti team in 2022 as a Senior Associate on the North America Direct Investments team. Previously, Marcelo was an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Consumer Retail Group. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Marcelo worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Itau BBA where he focused on M&A advisory and capital market transactions for Latin America Ex-Brazil. Marcelo received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Tecnologica Nacional (Argentina) and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Ani Sefaj Senior Associate
Ani Sefaj has been with Continental Grain Company since 2018. Prior to joining the Corporate Investments team, Ani worked at Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets, focusing on private equity investments in transportation and communications across North America. Previously, Ani worked at Atlas Holdings, a special situations private equity firm, and Ellington Management Group, a quantitative investment firm. Ani received a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale University.

Nicolas Guzman Advisor, Arlon Latin American Partners
Nicolas has been with Continental Grain Company since 2021. Previously, Nicolas worked as an Associate in the investment banking division of Credicorp Capital in Chile, where he was involved in executing M&A, DCM and ECM transactions in the Andean Region. Nicolás received a BA in Business and Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Hunter Whitney Associate, Direct Investments
Hunter joined the Direct Investments team as an Associate in 2023. Previously, he was as an Analyst within Guggenheim Securities’ Industrials Coverage group, where he focused on both M&A transactions and capital raises. Hunter began his career performing process management consulting services and valuations in Deloitte’s Tangible Asset Valuation practice. Hunter received a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Guilherme Franco Senior Associate
Arlon Latin America Partners
Guilherme Franco has been ALAP since 2020. Prior to joining, Guilherme was part of the investment banking team at BR Partners, a leading Brazilian independent investment bank focused on financial advisory in mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked at Estáter, a Brazilian M&A and restructuring boutique, and Itaú BBA. He received his BS in Mechatronics Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo and his MS in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. Guilherme is a CFA Charter holder since 2019. Guilherme is a Brazilian national and is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Felipe Piffer Junior Analyst
Arlon Latin America Partners (ALAP)
Felipe has been with Conti since 2022. Previously to joining the investment team, Felipe worked in a Search Fund called Tractus. Felipe received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Michael Fribourg Head of 1813
Michael Fribourg has been with Continental Grain Company since 2019, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as a Senior Associate working on value creation across Arlon’s portfolio. Today, Michael is leading 1813, the office of the Fribourg family, and is focused on making investments outside of the food and ag space.
Prior to joining Conti, Michael was a senior associate at private equity firm, Garnett Station Partners, focused on the restaurant, consumer, and franchising sectors. Before that, Michael was a marketing coordinator at Peet’s Coffee, and prior to that was a freight analyst at Castleton Commodities. Michael received his BA from New York University, and his MBA from NYU Stern.
Conti Ventures Team

Brian Loeb Co-Head
Brian Loeb has been with Conti since early 2016, having previously worked at J.P. Morgan within the Financial Institutions Investment Banking Group. At Conti, Brian has focused primarily on Conti Ventures, with a mandate to co-invest in early stage technology companies in the food, agriculture and restaurant sectors. Brian sits on the Board of Prenexus Health, Myco Technologies, Arzeda, Checkmate and Plasma Nutrition. Brian is a Board Observer at Brightseed Bio and Agot. He also helps manage Conti’s partnership with the Boulder Food Group, a VC fund focused on emerging CPG brands. Mr. Loeb holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University.

Suyash Bulchandani Senior Associate
Suyash Bulchandani joined Conti in 2022 as a Senior Associate on the Ventures team. Before joining Conti, Suyash worked for Viking Global Investors, where he most recently was an Alternative Data Investment Analyst. Prior to his time at Viking, Suyash worked at Bridgewater Associates. Suyash holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Dartmouth College.

Evan Savell Senior Associate
Evan joined the Conti Ventures team in 2020. Previously, Evan was a strategy consultant with EY-Parthenon, where he advised private equity and Fortune 500 clients within the industrials, energy, and consumer sectors. Evan received his BA, cum laude, in Public Policy, with an Economics Minor and Energy & Environment Certificate from Duke University.
Conti Asia Team

Yin Chen Head of Asia
Yin Chen is the Head of Asia for Conti and is responsible for the growth and development of Conti’s portfolio in Asia. Prior to joining Conti, Yin was a Partner with Bain & Company in Shanghai, where he worked with Fortune 500 multinationals and private equity firms on commercial due diligence on China assets, commercial excellence and route-to-market redesign, M&A strategy, and post-acquisition value creation for PE-owned portfolio companies. Yin graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with BS in Business Administration and a BA in Political Economy of Industrial Societies. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Grace Zhuang Chief Financial Officer
Grace joined ContiFeed Group in Beijing in 1999. Since joining the Company, she has served in various financial roles including Internal Auditing Manager, Financial Controller, and CFO. In addition to her role with ContiFeed, she has taken on finance oversight responsibilities for CCTI operations and Conti Asia’s investment activities. Prior to joining Conti, Grace was Auditor of Arthur Andersen. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Finance from the People’s University.

Jiayu Zhang Principal
Jiayu has been with Continental Grain Company (Conti) since 2012. Prior to joining Conti Asia, Jiayu was an Associate in BNP Paribas’s Structuring team in Singapore. Jiayu was born and raised in China. He received his BS in computational mathematics from Nanjing University, his MS in financial mathematics from Clemson University and his MS in financial engineering from Columbia University. He is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Lingjun He Vice President
Lingjun re-joined Conti Asia’s investment team in Beijing as an Investment Vice President in July 2021. Prior to re-joining Conti Asia, Lingjun was Investment Director of TCL Industrial Holdings in Shenzhen, Investment Associate of Conti Asia in Beijing, Engagement Manager of Meritco Services in Shanghai, where she provided management consulting services to various global companies and private equity firms. Before that, Lingjun was Analyst, Strategic Development Department of China Zheshang Bank in Hangzhou. Lingjun received her BA in Finance and BS in Statistics, both from Peking University. She worked with Conti’s Corporate Investments in New York for six months in 2018 and attended Harvard Business School in 2019. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Myra Kwok Vice President – HR & Admin
Myra joined Conti Asia’s Hong Kong office in 1993. She held various positions in the company from HR Secretary, to Executive Assistant to President, to Office Manager, to head of Human Resources and Administration. Before joining Conti Asia, she was Administrative Secretary of Michel Manufacturing Limited in Hong Kong. Myra obtained her Higher Diploma in Business Studies from City University of Hong Kong (formerly City Polytechnic of Hong Kong). She provides all-rounded HR and administrative supports to our team in China and Hong Kong.

Shijing Liu Vice President
Shijing Liu joined Conti Asia’s investment team in Beijing as an Investment Vice President in March 2021. Prior to joining Conti, Shijing was Senior Manager at Bain & Company in Beijing. Before that, he was HR Advisor of Deutsche Bank. Shijing obtained his B.B.A. and B.S. in Psychology from Peking University, and M.B.A. from Yale School of Management. He was born and raised in China, and he is fluent in English and Mandarin.

April Sun Senior Associate
Chenchen (April) Sun joined Conti Asia’s Investment team in Beijing as an Investment Analyst in May 2020. Prior to joining Conti, April was Associate with PwC Consulting in Beijing. April received her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Cinematic Arts, from the University of Southern California. She was born and raised in China, and she is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Siwei Xia Associate
Siwei joined Conti Asia’s Investment team in Beijing as an Investment Associate in 2022. Prior to joining Conti, Siwei was Investment Manager with Guangdian Capital in Beijing. Before that, she was Senior Associate with Deloitte China in Beijing, focusing on M&A transaction service advisory. Siwei received her Master Degree in International Economics and Finance from the Brandeis University in the US. Before that, she obtained her Bachelor Degree in Financial Engineering from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Siwei was born and raised in China, and she is fluent in English and Mandarin.
Conti Asia Team

Yin Chen Head of Asia
Yin Chen is the Head of Asia for Conti and is responsible for the growth and development of Conti’s portfolio in Asia. Prior to joining Conti, Yin was a Partner with Bain & Company in Shanghai, where he worked with Fortune 500 multinationals and private equity firms on commercial due diligence on China assets, commercial excellence and route-to-market redesign, M&A strategy, and post-acquisition value creation for PE-owned portfolio companies. Yin graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with BS in Business Administration and a BA in Political Economy of Industrial Societies. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Grace Zhuang Chief Financial Officer
Grace joined ContiFeed Group in Beijing in 1999. Since joining the Company, she has served in various financial roles including Internal Auditing Manager, Financial Controller, and CFO. In addition to her role with ContiFeed, she has taken on finance oversight responsibilities for CCTI operations and Conti Asia’s investment activities. Prior to joining Conti, Grace was Auditor of Arthur Andersen. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Finance from the People’s University.

Jiayu Zhang Principal
Jiayu has been with Continental Grain Company (Conti) since 2012. Prior to joining Conti Asia, Jiayu was an Associate in BNP Paribas’s Structuring team in Singapore. Jiayu was born and raised in China. He received his BS in computational mathematics from Nanjing University, his MS in financial mathematics from Clemson University and his MS in financial engineering from Columbia University. He is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Lingjun He Vice President
Lingjun re-joined Conti Asia’s investment team in Beijing as an Investment Vice President in July 2021. Prior to re-joining Conti Asia, Lingjun was Investment Director of TCL Industrial Holdings in Shenzhen, Investment Associate of Conti Asia in Beijing, Engagement Manager of Meritco Services in Shanghai, where she provided management consulting services to various global companies and private equity firms. Before that, Lingjun was Analyst, Strategic Development Department of China Zheshang Bank in Hangzhou. Lingjun received her BA in Finance and BS in Statistics, both from Peking University. She worked with Conti’s Corporate Investments in New York for six months in 2018 and attended Harvard Business School in 2019. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Myra Kwok Vice President
HR & Admin
Myra joined Conti Asia’s Hong Kong office in 1993. She held various positions in the company from HR Secretary, to Executive Assistant to President, to Office Manager, to head of Human Resources and Administration. Before joining Conti Asia, she was Administrative Secretary of Michel Manufacturing Limited in Hong Kong. Myra obtained her Higher Diploma in Business Studies from City University of Hong Kong (formerly City Polytechnic of Hong Kong). She provides all-rounded HR and administrative supports to our team in China and Hong Kong.

Shijing Liu Vice President
Shijing Liu joined Conti Asia’s investment team in Beijing as an Investment Vice President in March 2021. Prior to joining Conti, Shijing was Senior Manager at Bain & Company in Beijing. Before that, he was HR Advisor of Deutsche Bank. Shijing obtained his B.B.A. and B.S. in Psychology from Peking University, and M.B.A. from Yale School of Management. He was born and raised in China, and he is fluent in English and Mandarin.

April Sun Senior Associate
Chenchen (April) Sun joined Conti Asia’s Investment team in Beijing as an Investment Analyst in May 2020. Prior to joining Conti, April was Associate with PwC Consulting in Beijing. April received her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Cinematic Arts, from the University of Southern California. She was born and raised in China, and she is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Siwei Xia Associate
Siwei joined Conti Asia’s Investment team in Beijing as an Investment Associate in 2022. Prior to joining Conti, Siwei was Investment Manager with Guangdian Capital in Beijing. Before that, she was Senior Associate with Deloitte China in Beijing, focusing on M&A transaction service advisory. Siwei received her Master Degree in International Economics and Finance from the Brandeis University in the US. Before that, she obtained her Bachelor Degree in Financial Engineering from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Siwei was born and raised in China, and she is fluent in English and Mandarin.
Operations Team

Jose Concha Operating Partner
Jose Concha joined Continental Grain Company in 2022 as an Operating Partner for Latin America. Prior to joining Conti, Jose worked for SMU, a leading Chilean grocery retailer, in a series of roles from Merchandize Manager for Perishable foods to Operating Excellence Manager, among others. Before SMU, Jose worked at McKinsey, were he focused on operations transformations, Unilever working on supply chain, and Walmart where he worked in the Merchandize Department. Jose holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Kevin Thorson Principal
Kevin joined Conti in 2013 and has been involved in the acquisition and management of private investments in the food and agriculture sector. He started his career in Piper Jaffray’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory for restaurants, retailers, and food companies. Kevin is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Technologies and Caulipower. Kevin received his BA, magna cum laude, in economics and Spanish from Bates College.

Steven Colliau Vice President
Steven has been with Continental Grain Company since 2015. From 2013 to 2015, he was an Analyst in the Diversified Industries Investment banking division of J.P. Morgan Chase. In 2012, he was Summer Analyst in the same division. Steven received his BS in accounting and business with special attainments in commerce from Washington & Lee University.

Kevin VandeKamp Senior Associate
Kevin VandeKamp is a Senior Associate on our Operations team. Kevin joined the team in 2022 from Citadel LLC, where he was most recently a Business and Strategic Associate on the Global Credit team. In his role, Kevin led strategic growth initiatives for the Credit, Convertible Arbitrage, and Equity Volatility businesses. Prior to his tenure at Citadel, Kevin worked for Vitaligent LLC and Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Danilo Rodrigues Operating Partner
Arlon Latin America Partners
Danilo Rodrigues has extensive experience in consulting (At Kearney and Webb Consulting) and as a business executive (Bacardi and Grupo Boticario). He developed projects and lived in many different countries (Brazil, USA, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar). He joined Arlon in 2019 and is currently a member of Conti’s operating group, focused on our Brazilian investments (Alvoar, Grano and TMOV). Danilo holds an MBA from UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business and a BBA from FGV-EAESP.
Operating Advisors

Luiz Aere Operating Partner
Luiz Aere is an Operating Partner at Continental Grain Company and is responsible for value creation across Conti’s global portfolio.
Luiz joined Conti from AB InBev, where he spent two decades of his career working in commercial leadership roles across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, participating in most of AB InBev’s post-merger integrations. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer in Europe and prior to that Luiz was the Global VP of Revenue Management and Business Intelligence.

Mike Robach Operating Advisor
Mike Robach is a Senior Advisor to Conti. He has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry, much of which was obtained while serving as vice president, Corporate Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory for Cargill.
Mike is a past chairman of the board of directors of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), past president for Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSAFE), and a past member of the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Council Executive Committee for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He is also a past member of the North American Meat Institute, the National Turkey Federation, the International Association of Food Protection, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the American Society for Microbiology. Robach has worked with the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on harmonized animal health and food safety standards. He has also worked closely with the USDA and FDA regarding food safety policy, HACCP and regulatory reform based on science. From 1995 through 2000, Mike was a member of the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria in Foods.
Operations Team

Jose Concha Operating Partner
Jose Concha joined Continental Grain Company in 2022 as an Operating Partner for Latin America. Prior to joining Conti, Jose worked for SMU, a leading Chilean grocery retailer, in a series of roles from Merchandize Manager for Perishable foods to Operating Excellence Manager, among others. Before SMU, Jose worked at McKinsey, were he focused on operations transformations, Unilever working on supply chain, and Walmart where he worked in the Merchandize Department. Jose holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Kevin Thorson Principal
Kevin joined Conti in 2013 and has been involved in the acquisition and management of private investments in the food and agriculture sector. He started his career in Piper Jaffray’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory for restaurants, retailers, and food companies. Kevin is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Technologies and Caulipower. Kevin received his BA, magna cum laude, in economics and Spanish from Bates College.

Steven Colliau Vice President
Steven has been with Continental Grain Company since 2015. From 2013 to 2015, he was an Analyst in the Diversified Industries Investment banking division of J.P. Morgan Chase. In 2012, he was Summer Analyst in the same division. Steven received his BS in accounting and business with special attainments in commerce from Washington & Lee University.

Kevin VandeKamp Senior Associate

Danilo Rodrigues Operating Partner
Arlon Latin America Partners
Kevin VandeKamp is a Senior Associate on our Operations team. Kevin joined the team in 2022 from Citadel LLC, where he was most recently a Business and Strategic Associate on the Global Credit team. In his role, Kevin led strategic growth initiatives for the Credit, Convertible Arbitrage, and Equity Volatility businesses. Prior to his tenure at Citadel, Kevin worked for Vitaligent LLC and Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Danilo Rodrigues has extensive experience in consulting (At Kearney and Webb Consulting) and as a business executive (Bacardi and Grupo Boticario). He developed projects and lived in many different countries (Brazil, USA, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar). He joined Arlon in 2019 and is currently a member of Conti’s operating group, focused on our Brazilian investments (Alvoar, Grano and TMOV). Danilo holds an MBA from UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business and a BBA from FGV-EAESP.
Operating Advisors

Luiz Aere Operating Partner
Luiz Aere is an Operating Partner at Continental Grain Company and is responsible for value creation across Conti’s global portfolio.
Luiz joined Conti from AB InBev, where he spent two decades of his career working in commercial leadership roles across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, participating in most of AB InBev’s post-merger integrations. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer in Europe and prior to that Luiz was the Global VP of Revenue Management and Business Intelligence.

Mike Robach Operating Advisor
Mike Robach is a Senior Advisor to Conti. He has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry, much of which was obtained while serving as vice president, Corporate Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory for Cargill.
Mike is a past chairman of the board of directors of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), past president for Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSAFE), and a past member of the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Council Executive Committee for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He is also a past member of the North American Meat Institute, the National Turkey Federation, the International Association of Food Protection, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the American Society for Microbiology. Robach has worked with the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on harmonized animal health and food safety standards. He has also worked closely with the USDA and FDA regarding food safety policy, HACCP and regulatory reform based on science. From 1995 through 2000, Mike was a member of the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria in Foods.
Operations Team

Jose Concha Operating Partner
Jose Concha joined Continental Grain Company in 2022 as an Operating Partner for Latin America. Prior to joining Conti, Jose worked for SMU, a leading Chilean grocery retailer, in a series of roles from Merchandize Manager for Perishable foods to Operating Excellence Manager, among others. Before SMU, Jose worked at McKinsey, were he focused on operations transformations, Unilever working on supply chain, and Walmart where he worked in the Merchandize Department. Jose holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Kevin Thorson Principal
Kevin joined Conti in 2013 and has been involved in the acquisition and management of private investments in the food and agriculture sector. He started his career in Piper Jaffray’s investment banking division where he focused on M&A advisory for restaurants, retailers, and food companies. Kevin is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Technologies and Caulipower. Kevin received his BA, magna cum laude, in economics and Spanish from Bates College.

Steven Colliau Vice President
Steven has been with Continental Grain Company since 2015. From 2013 to 2015, he was an Analyst in the Diversified Industries Investment banking division of J.P. Morgan Chase. In 2012, he was Summer Analyst in the same division. Steven received his BS in accounting and business with special attainments in commerce from Washington & Lee University.

Kevin VandeKamp Senior Associate
Kevin VandeKamp is a Senior Associate on our Operations team. Kevin joined the team in 2022 from Citadel LLC, where he was most recently a Business and Strategic Associate on the Global Credit team. In his role, Kevin led strategic growth initiatives for the Credit, Convertible Arbitrage, and Equity Volatility businesses. Prior to his tenure at Citadel, Kevin worked for Vitaligent LLC and Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Danilo Rodrigues Operating Partner
Arlon Latin America Partners
Danilo Rodrigues has extensive experience in consulting (At Kearney and Webb Consulting) and as a business executive (Bacardi and Grupo Boticario). He developed projects and lived in many different countries (Brazil, USA, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar). He joined Arlon in 2019 and is currently a member of Conti’s operating group, focused on our Brazilian investments (Alvoar, Grano and TMOV). Danilo holds an MBA from UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business and a BBA from FGV-EAESP.
Operating Advisors

Luiz Aere Operating Partner
Luiz Aere is an Operating Partner at Continental Grain Company and is responsible for value creation across Conti’s global portfolio.
Luiz joined Conti from AB InBev, where he spent two decades of his career working in commercial leadership roles across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, participating in most of AB InBev’s post-merger integrations. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer in Europe and prior to that Luiz was the Global VP of Revenue Management and Business Intelligence.

Mike Robach Operating Advisor
Mike Robach is a Senior Advisor to Conti. He has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry, much of which was obtained while serving as vice president, Corporate Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory for Cargill.
Mike is a past chairman of the board of directors of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), past president for Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSAFE), and a past member of the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Council Executive Committee for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He is also a past member of the North American Meat Institute, the National Turkey Federation, the International Association of Food Protection, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the American Society for Microbiology. Robach has worked with the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on harmonized animal health and food safety standards. He has also worked closely with the USDA and FDA regarding food safety policy, HACCP and regulatory reform based on science. From 1995 through 2000, Mike was a member of the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria in Foods.
Corporate Team

Jordana Fribourg Chief Talent Officer
Jordana Fribourg was appointed to Chief Talent Officer for Continental Grain Company in 2021 and is responsible for driving value creation through CGC’s global network of relationships and talent. Prior to this role, Jordana was the Vice President of Talent and Strategic Partnerships for the Company. Jordana first joined Conti in 2017 to focus on corporate investments and venture capital. Jordana is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Jordana is a member of the 7th generation of the Fribourg Family to lead the business. She is an alumna of Brown University (B.A.), Sotheby’s Institute of Art (M.A.), and Columbia University (M.B.A.).

David Dryerman Senior Vice President
Finance & Treasurer
David Dryerman has been with Conti since 2014, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as its Vice President of Finance. In 2017, David assumed the additional responsibilities to lead a team that supports all aspects of accounting for all of Conti’s fund and direct investments, as well as Conti’s treasury/cash management.
Prior to joining Conti, David was a Director at EisnerAmper Fund Services, where he led the private equity fund administration practice. Before that, he was a Vice President at State Street Fund Administration where he was the head of Direct Investments for their private equity fund administration practice. Prior to that, David was the Chief Financial Officer of Falconhead Capital and the Controller at Wand Partners, both private equity firms based in New York. He began his career at Richard A. Eisner & Company (now EisnerAmper LLP) in 1991.
David received his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Hartford and is a licensed CPA in New York. He is a former chair of the finance committee and a board member of Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley.

Shaun Ehrhardt Senior Vice President, Tax
Shaun Ehrhardt leads Conti’s tax department. Shaun has been with the Company since 2001. Prior to coming to Conti, Shaun was an outside consultant to Conti though his partnership Gross & Ehrhardt, CPA’s. Shaun is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Karen Miller Senior Vice President, Controller
Karen Miller is Conti’s Controller. Karen has worked for Continental Grain Company since 1989 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Assistant Controller. Karen received her MS in Accounting from Pace University and her BA from SUNY Albany.

Joseph Bongiorno Senior Vice President
Compensation & Benefits
Joe Bongiorno has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996, serving in position in compensation, benefits, human resources systems and information technology. Prior to Conti, Joe managed human resources systems for Young and Rubicam and also worked as a PeopleSoft HRMS consultant. Joe received his BS in psychology from Brooklyn College and is a certified Professional in Human Resources.

Tatyana Dukhvalov Senior Vice President
Information Technology
Tatyana Dukhvalov is Vice President, Information Technology. Tatyana has worked for the Company since 1997 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Senior Systems Analyst. Prior to that, she was with Automated Management Systems as a Senior Programmer, having started her career as a Programmer for McGrath & McNeill. She received her Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the Belarusian National Technical University, having graduated second in her class.

Susan McIntyre Director, Office Operations
Susan McIntyre has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996. Prior to that, she was Manager of Operations for several oil trading companies and refiners — overseeing all foreign and domestic crude and petroleum products operations.
Susan received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and spent her junior year abroad in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Danielle Bensignor Senior Manager
Talent and Partnerships
Danielle joined Conti in 2022 as Senior Manager, Talent and Partnerships. Previously, Danielle worked at ExecOnline, Inc., where she spent several years in a series of Human Resources and Talent Management roles. Most recently, Danielle was Senior Manager, Business and People Operations where she oversaw the full employee lifecycle including onboarding, benefits, employee relations, and strategic talent management planning. Prior to working at ExecOnline, Inc., Danielle was a Recruiting Coordinator at Citi. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Binghamton University.

Jacqueline Fyrwald Manager, Communications
& Partnerships
Corporate Team

Jordana Fribourg Chief Talent Officer

David Dryerman Senior Vice President
Finance & Treasurer

Shaun Ehrhardt Senior Vice President
Tax

Karen Miller Senior Vice President, Controller
Jordana Fribourg was appointed to Chief Talent Officer for Continental Grain Company in 2021 and is responsible for driving value creation through CGC’s global network of relationships and talent. Prior to this role, Jordana was the Vice President of Talent and Strategic Partnerships for the Company. Jordana first joined Conti in 2017 to focus on corporate investments and venture capital. Jordana is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Jordana is a member of the 7th generation of the Fribourg Family to lead the business. She is an alumna of Brown University (B.A.), Sotheby’s Institute of Art (M.A.), and Columbia University (M.B.A.).
David Dryerman has been with Conti since 2014, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as its Vice President of Finance. In 2017, David assumed the additional responsibilities to lead a team that supports all aspects of accounting for all of Conti’s fund and direct investments, as well as Conti’s treasury/cash management.
Prior to joining Conti, David was a Director at EisnerAmper Fund Services, where he led the private equity fund administration practice. Before that, he was a Vice President at State Street Fund Administration where he was the head of Direct Investments for their private equity fund administration practice. Prior to that, David was the Chief Financial Officer of Falconhead Capital and the Controller at Wand Partners, both private equity firms based in New York. He began his career at Richard A. Eisner & Company (now EisnerAmper LLP) in 1991.
David received his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Hartford and is a licensed CPA in New York. He is a former chair of the finance committee and a board member of Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley.
Shaun Ehrhardt leads Conti’s tax department. Shaun has been with the Company since 2001. Prior to coming to Conti, Shaun was an outside consultant to Conti though his partnership Gross & Ehrhardt, CPA’s. Shaun is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Joe Bongiorno has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996, serving in position in compensation, benefits, human resources systems and information technology. Prior to Conti, Joe managed human resources systems for Young and Rubicam and also worked as a PeopleSoft HRMS consultant. Joe received his BS in psychology from Brooklyn College and is a certified Professional in Human Resources.

Joseph Bongiorno Senior Vice President, Compensation & Benefits

Tatyana Dukhvalov Senior Vice President
Information Technology

Susan McIntyre Director, Office Operations

Danielle Bensignor Senior Manager
Talent and Partnerships
Karen Miller is Conti’s Controller. Karen has worked for Continental Grain Company since 1989 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Assistant Controller. Karen received her MS in Accounting from Pace University and her BA from SUNY Albany.
Tatyana Dukhvalov is Vice President, Information Technology. Tatyana has worked for the Company since 1997 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Senior Systems Analyst. Prior to that, she was with Automated Management Systems as a Senior Programmer, having started her career as a Programmer for McGrath & McNeill. She received her Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the Belarusian National Technical University, having graduated second in her class.
Susan McIntyre has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996. Prior to that, she was Manager of Operations for several oil trading companies and refiners — overseeing all foreign and domestic crude and petroleum products operations.
Susan received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and spent her junior year abroad in Fribourg, Switzerland.
Danielle joined Conti in 2022 as Senior Manager, Talent and Partnerships. Previously, Danielle worked at ExecOnline, Inc., where she spent several years in a series of Human Resources and Talent Management roles. Most recently, Danielle was Senior Manager, Business and People Operations where she oversaw the full employee lifecycle including onboarding, benefits, employee relations, and strategic talent management planning. Prior to working at ExecOnline, Inc., Danielle was a Recruiting Coordinator at Citi. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Binghamton University.

Jacqueline Fyrwald Manager, Communications
& Partnerships
Corporate Team

Jordana Fribourg Chief Talent Officer
Jordana Fribourg was appointed to Chief Talent Officer for Continental Grain Company in 2021 and is responsible for driving value creation through CGC’s global network of relationships and talent. Prior to this role, Jordana was the Vice President of Talent and Strategic Partnerships for the Company. Jordana first joined Conti in 2017 to focus on corporate investments and venture capital. Jordana is a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Jordana is a member of the 7th generation of the Fribourg Family to lead the business. She is an alumna of Brown University (B.A.), Sotheby’s Institute of Art (M.A.), and Columbia University (M.B.A.).

David Dryerman Senior Vice President
Finance & Treasurer
David Dryerman has been with Conti since 2014, initially joining Arlon Capital Partners as its Vice President of Finance. In 2017, David assumed the additional responsibilities to lead a team that supports all aspects of accounting for all of Conti’s fund and direct investments, as well as Conti’s treasury/cash management.
Prior to joining Conti, David was a Director at EisnerAmper Fund Services, where he led the private equity fund administration practice. Before that, he was a Vice President at State Street Fund Administration where he was the head of Direct Investments for their private equity fund administration practice. Prior to that, David was the Chief Financial Officer of Falconhead Capital and the Controller at Wand Partners, both private equity firms based in New York. He began his career at Richard A. Eisner & Company (now EisnerAmper LLP) in 1991.
David received his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Hartford and is a licensed CPA in New York. He is a former chair of the finance committee and a board member of Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley.

Shaun Ehrhardt Senior Vice President, Tax
Shaun Ehrhardt leads Conti’s tax department. Shaun has been with the Company since 2001. Prior to coming to Conti, Shaun was an outside consultant to Conti though his partnership Gross & Ehrhardt, CPA’s. Shaun is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Karen Miller Senior Vice President, Controller
Karen Miller is Conti’s Controller. Karen has worked for Continental Grain Company since 1989 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Assistant Controller. Karen received her MS in Accounting from Pace University and her BA from SUNY Albany.

Joseph Bongiorno Senior Vice President, Compensation & Benefits
Joe Bongiorno has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996, serving in position in compensation, benefits, human resources systems and information technology. Prior to Conti, Joe managed human resources systems for Young and Rubicam and also worked as a PeopleSoft HRMS consultant. Joe received his BS in psychology from Brooklyn College and is a certified Professional in Human Resources.

Tatyana Dukhvalov Senior Vice President
Information Technology
Tatyana Dukhvalov is Vice President, Information Technology. Tatyana has worked for the Company since 1997 including her tenure at ContiFinancial Corporation as Senior Systems Analyst. Prior to that, she was with Automated Management Systems as a Senior Programmer, having started her career as a Programmer for McGrath & McNeill. She received her Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the Belarusian National Technical University, having graduated second in her class.

Susan McIntyre Director, Office Operations
Susan McIntyre has been with Continental Grain Company since 1996. Prior to that, she was Manager of Operations for several oil trading companies and refiners — overseeing all foreign and domestic crude and petroleum products operations.
Susan received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and spent her junior year abroad in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Danielle Bensignor Senior Manager
Talent and Partnerships
Danielle joined Conti in 2022 as Senior Manager, Talent and Partnerships. Previously, Danielle worked at ExecOnline, Inc., where she spent several years in a series of Human Resources and Talent Management roles. Most recently, Danielle was Senior Manager, Business and People Operations where she oversaw the full employee lifecycle including onboarding, benefits, employee relations, and strategic talent management planning. Prior to working at ExecOnline, Inc., Danielle was a Recruiting Coordinator at Citi. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Binghamton University.

Jacqueline Fyrwald Manager, Communications
& Partnerships
Our approach to talent goes well beyond our employee base and extends into our vast network of partners, advisors. and broader professional and personal networks.
Our long-term horizon and permanent capital base offer our team members entrepreneurial opportunities without having to take on entrepreneurial risks.
Our track record illustrates how our people succeed by taking on big responsibility with the support of a strong network and infrastructure.