Decatur- Dwayne Andreas, 98, has died. Elected Chairman Archer Daniels Midland Company in 1970, Andreas took the primarily Midwestern company, global. In a statement ADM current Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano said “We were deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Andreas’ passing. Under his many years of leadership, our company became a global leader in agricultural processing. “
In addition, the company statement says when Mr. Andreas retired as chairman of ADM’s Board of Directors in 1999 he took the agriculture company from employing 3,000 people and owning 40 plants to “the company employed more than 23,000 people and owned 274 processing plants around the world. “
The statement goes on to say: During his lifetime, Mr. Andreas passionately believed in agriculture’s ability to address hunger among the world’s poor. He used his deep understanding of global markets and extraordinary business acumen to support policies and programs that helped food reach people in resource-scarce regions. After President John F. Kennedy appointed him to the American Food for Peace Council, Mr. Andreas was quoted saying: ‘Food knows no boundaries. We are in the international age of agriculture.’
Mr. Luciano also says “On behalf of ADM’s 32,000 colleagues around the world, I extend condolences to the entire Andreas family.”
