Deere & Co. announced the appointment of Brian Sikes, board chair and CEO of Cargill, to the company’s board of directors. “Brian’s decades of leadership at Cargill have given him a deep understanding of the agricultural value chain and the challenges faced by farmers and food producers worldwide,” John C. May, chairman and CEO of Deere & Co., said in a news release. “His commitment to innovation and sustainability will be instrumental as we continue to transform our business and deliver smarter, more sustainable solutions for our customers.”  Since joining Cargill in 1991, Sikes has served in numerous leadership positions within the company’s protein, food ingredients and agricultural supply chain divisions. He assumed the roles of president and CEO in 2023 and became chair of Cargill’s board of directors in 2024. With Sikes’ appointment, the size of Deere’s board has increased to 11 members, 10 of whom are independent, non-employee directors.