Key Takeaways
- Syngenta Group's Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Hengde Qin, currently Chief Operating Officer and Head of Seeds, as Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2026.
- Qin succeeds Jeff Rowe, who will remain in the role through August 1 before returning to the United States after nearly 10 years with the company.
- Qin has served on Syngenta Group's executive team since 2020, holding roles including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, and President of Syngenta Group China, where he led significant growth and profitability expansion.
- Qin will be based at Syngenta Group's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, where he has been located since January 2023, and is a member of the Syngenta Group Board of Directors.
- Rowe joined Syngenta in September 2016, led the turnaround of the Seeds business and later the Crop Protection business before becoming CEO.
Syngenta Group Appoints Hengde Qin as Next CEO
Syngenta Group has announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Hengde Qin as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026, following a formal nomination and succession process. Qin, currently Chief Operating Officer and Head of Seeds, succeeds Jeff Rowe, who will remain in the CEO role through August 1 before returning to the United States following nearly a decade with the company.
“The Board of Directors believes Hengde, a highly respected leader who boasts a unique combination of operational, financial and commercial experience is the best candidate for the role. We are confident that Hengde will take Syngenta Group to the next level of its sustainable development and value creation. We want to sincerely thank Jeff for his contribution and service as he led the Company through focused execution during one of the most challenging periods in modern agriculture,” said Fanrong Li, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Syngenta Group.
Qin's Background Across Finance, HR, and Syngenta's China Operations
Qin will be based at Syngenta Group's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, where he has been located since January 2023. He has served on the company's executive team since 2020, holding senior roles spanning business, finance, human resources, and global operations. During his tenure, he has served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer for Syngenta Group, as well as President of Syngenta Group China, where he led a period of significant growth and profitability expansion that established the China business as one of the company's strongest-performing operations. He is also a member of the Syngenta Group Board of Directors.
Prior to Syngenta, Qin held CEO positions at two publicly listed companies in mainland China and Hong Kong. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and management from the East China Engineering Institute of Technology, a master's degree in industrial engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and an MBA from the China Europe International Business School.
Qin and Rowe on the Leadership Transition
“Agriculture stands at the center of the world's most important challenges – from feeding a growing population to improving sustainability and resilience across food systems. That is why the mission of this company matters so deeply to me — we help farmers produce higher yields with lower impact. That mission has never been more important, and few companies are as well positioned as Syngenta to lead that transformation. Together with Syngenta's talented employees around the world, we will continue to innovate, create lasting value for our customers, and deliver more breakthroughs for farmers, in every field,” said Hengde Qin, incoming CEO of Syngenta Group.
“I have worked closely with Hengde for many years and have seen firsthand his commitment to our business, his understanding of our customers, and his deep appreciation for the people who make this company successful. This is a transition from strength to strength,” said Jeff Rowe, outgoing CEO of Syngenta Group.
“I am deeply honored by the Board's confidence in me and grateful for the opportunity to succeed Jeff,” Qin added.
Rowe's Nearly Decade-Long Tenure at Syngenta
Rowe joined Syngenta in September 2016 and was responsible for the successful turnaround of the Seeds business, which saw strong growth and a return to profitability. He went on to lead the Crop Protection business, the company's largest business unit, before taking over as CEO.
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