Syngenta names Hengde Qin as CEO, succeeding Jeff Rowe

Syngenta Group has appointed Hengde Qin as its new chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1, 2026, following a unanimous board decision. Qin, currently chief operating officer and head of Seeds, will succeed Jeff Rowe, who is stepping down after nearly a decade and returning to the United States.

Qin has been based at Syngenta’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, since 2023 and has served on the executive leadership team since 2020. He has held senior roles including chief financial officer, chief human resources officer, and president of Syngenta Group China, where he led significant business growth and improved profitability. Prior to joining Syngenta, Qin was chief executive of two publicly listed companies in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Board Chairman Fanrong Li stated that Qin’s extensive operational, financial, and commercial experience made him the ideal candidate to lead the company. Qin noted that agriculture faces increasing challenges in food security, sustainability, and resilience, and affirmed Syngenta’s commitment to investing in innovation to help farmers boost productivity and reduce environmental impact. Rowe described the transition as “a transition from strength to strength,” highlighting Qin’s deep understanding of the business and its customers.

Rowe joined Syngenta in 2016, led the turnaround of its Seeds business, then headed the Crop Protection division, the company’s largest unit, before becoming chief executive. Under his leadership, Syngenta navigated a challenging period for global agriculture and strengthened its operational performance.

Syngenta Group employs over 50,000 people in more than 90 countries and is among the world’s largest agricultural technology companies. The group operates four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, Syngenta Seeds, ADAMA, and Syngenta Group China. It is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and registered in Shanghai, China.