Syngenta Group, one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, is moving forward with a leadership change after its Board of Directors unanimously appointed Hengde Qin as Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment will take effect on 1 August 2026, when Qin will succeed Jeff Rowe, who is leaving the company after nearly ten years to return to the United States and be closer to his family.
Qin’s appointment represents an internal succession and follows an evaluation process conducted by the Board. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, Head of Syngenta Seeds and a member of the Syngenta Group Board of Directors.
Fanrong Li, Chairman of the Board, said Qin brings a distinctive combination of operational, financial and commercial experience, expressing confidence that he can lead Syngenta into its next phase of development.
The leadership transition comes at a time when the global agrifood sector is facing rising production costs, climate pressures, volatility in international markets and growing demand for technologies that reduce input use without compromising productivity.
Hengde Qin will continue to be based at the company’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, where he has worked since January 2023.
He has been a member of the Group’s executive team since 2020 and has held senior positions across several areas of the business. He has served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and President of Syngenta Group China.
During his tenure in China, he led a period of growth and improved profitability, helping the Group’s operations in the market become one of Syngenta’s strongest business units.
In his first comments following the announcement, Qin highlighted the role of agriculture in addressing the major challenges of the coming years.
“Agriculture is at the heart of the world’s most important challenges, from feeding a growing population to improving the sustainability and resilience of food systems,” he said.
Qin added that the company’s central objective remains the development of solutions that enable farmers to achieve higher yields with a lower environmental impact.
“We will continue to innovate, create value for our customers and deliver more solutions for farmers,” he said.
Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Jeff Rowe joined Syngenta in September 2016. He initially led the restructuring of the seeds business, which returned to growth and profitability, before being appointed head of Syngenta Crop Protection, the Group’s largest business unit.
Commenting on his successor, Rowe said he had worked closely with Qin for many years and had seen first-hand his leadership experience, his understanding of customers and his appreciation of the people who contribute to the company’s success.
“This is a transition from strength to strength,” Rowe said.
Syngenta Group employs more than 50,000 people in over 90 countries and operates across crop protection, seeds, biological products and digital agricultural technologies.
Its main business units are Syngenta Crop Protection, Syngenta Seeds, ADAMA and Syngenta Group China.
Hengde Qin’s appointment signals continuity in Syngenta Group’s strategy, with a continued focus on the development of new technologies, improved crop efficiency and a stronger presence in the world’s major agricultural markets.