ADAMA Welcomes New Leadership with Dr. Zhigang Hao and Sammy Leibowitz

ADAMA Welcomes New Leadership: A Strong Future Ahead

ADAMA Ltd., a renowned global crop protection company, has made significant strides in shaping its future by appointing Dr. Zhigang Hao as the new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2026. Additionally, Sammy Leibowitz has been designated as Chief Financial Officer, starting October 1, 2026. This transition comes as the company aims to enhance its capabilities and drive future growth in the agricultural sector.

Dr. Hao takes the reins from Gaël Hili, who is set to assume a pivotal role at the Syngenta Group as President of Seeds on the same day. Hili will focus on leading Syngenta's comprehensive Seeds portfolio and will continue his strong connection with ADAMA as Chairman of the Boards, ensuring continuity in leadership and strategic direction.

With an impressive background in global leadership, Dr. Hao has made a mark at Adisseo, a global firm specializing in specialty chemicals and animal nutrition, where he served as CEO. His extensive experience in operations, transformation, and corporate governance positions him as an ideal leader to guide ADAMA through its next phase. Dr. Hao will be relocating from France to Israel to take up this critical position, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge regarding complex international business operations across multiple markets.

Sammy Leibowitz, returning to ADAMA after a significant stint at Syngenta Group, has previously held various senior leadership roles in finance, corporate development, and strategy within ADAMA for over 13 years. His return is seen as a meaningful move given his established understanding of ADAMA’s operations and vision. He will succeed Efrat Nagar, who has spent an impressive 22 years with the company and played a vital role in steering its financial strategies as CFO.

The importance of these appointments cannot be overstated, as noted by Hengde Qin, CEO of Syngenta Group. He acknowledged the progress ADAMA has made in the last two years in establishing a sustainable growth strategy and emphasized the critical impact Dr. Hao and Leibowitz's leadership will have on furthering this progress. Qin expressed gratitude towards Hili for his steadfast leadership and dedication to ADAMA, a sentiment echoed within the company.

Dr. Hao's vision for ADAMA revolves around building upon the company's robust foundation and leveraging its immense talent pool. He expressed enthusiasm for joining the team at ADAMA and emphasized the commitment to enhancing company performance, supporting farmers, and seizing the myriad opportunities available in the agricultural landscape.

ADAMA Ltd. is recognized for its commitment to creating practical solutions for farmers across the globe, assisting them in addressing challenges posed by weeds, pests, and diseases. The company prides itself on fostering an organizational culture that encourages its team to engage with farmers directly and innovate solutions based on real-world insights. Its diverse product portfolio, which includes several existing active ingredients and cutting-edge formulation technologies, uniquely positions ADAMA to tackle the pressing challenges in agriculture today.

Moreover, ADAMA is making strides in establishing a significant presence in key markets, directly serving customers in the top 20 agricultural markets globally. The company aims to continue evolving its product offerings and expanding their reach in the industry to ensure that it remains at the forefront of agricultural innovation.

As ADAMA prepares for this leadership transition, the focus remains firmly on achieving sustainable and profitable growth. The new leadership team, with its collective experience and strategic vision, is set to navigate the evolving landscape of global agriculture, promising exciting developments for ADAMA and its stakeholders in the years ahead.