Patricia A. Woertz

Patricia A. Woertz is chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Archer Daniels Midland Company. She joined ADM as CEO and president in April 2006. She was named chairman of the board in February 2007. Since joining ADM, Woertz has driven efforts to improve shareholder returns and has led the company to record financial results while growing the business through acquisitions, capital investments and partnerships. Under Woertz’s leadership, ADM is strengthening its global network and growing its portfolio of higher-margin products. Woertz has also driven a strong emphasis on safety, and expanded the company’s sustainability initiatives.

Woertz began her career as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Ernst — later Ernst & Young — in Pittsburgh. Attracted to the complexity and opportunity of a global company, she joined Gulf Oil Corporation (later Chevron) in 1977, where she held various positions in finance, strategic planning, refining and marketing. In 2001, she was named executive vice president in charge of Chevron’s global refining, marketing, lubricant, and supply and trading operations.

She serves on the boards of directors of The Procter & Gamble Company and Royal Dutch Shell PLC. She also chairs the U.S. section of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum and is a member of The Business Council. In 2010, she was appointed to the President’s Export Council by President Obama. Woertz holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University, which awarded her its highest recognition for alumni.