Founder returns to head JBS

The founder of JBS, now the world’s largest meat-packing company, is the unanimous choice of the board of directors to take over as chief executive officer.

His two sons are out after admitting they bribed government officials to obtain billions in loans to fuel their acquisitions to become the largest meat packer.

José Batista Sobrinho is the father of Joesley and Wesley Batista; they were arrested last week on charges that they used inside information to benefit by about $100 million on trading in JBS stocks.

Batista Sobrinho will be advised by a global leadership team formed by JBS executives Gilberto Tomazoni (global president of operations), André Nogueira (president at JBS USA) and Wesley Batista Filho (president of JBS USA's beef division and son of now ex-CEO Wesley).

The board has also approved the company's leadership team to look for a new CFO.


“I am proud to resume the company I founded,” said Batista Sobrinho in a news release. “I have great confidence in the performance of our leadership, in all our managers and in our 235,000 employees.”