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  • December 2022
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

To Feed the Planet: Juan Luciano at ADM

By: Joshua D. Margolis, David E. Bell, Damien McLoughlin, Stacy Straaberg and James Weber
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:37
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Abstract

In December 2022, Juan Luciano, Chairman and CEO of agribusiness and nutrition giant ADM, considered the next phase of the historic company’s future. Beginning in 2011 when he joined as COO and moving into his tenure as CEO in 2015, Luciano led a transformation of ADM from a commodities-focused trading company to a customer-centric solutions firm. Upon coming aboard at ADM, Luciano saw changes in the agribusiness industry that warranted pivots in ADM’s business strategy to ensure long-term success. To shepherd the company through a changing industry, Luciano conceptualized three “strategic horizons”—general timeframes to pursue specific goals. The first horizon was aimed at getting ADM financially fit including raising ROIC above WACC and reducing CapEx. The second horizon was characterized by moving closer to customers through identifying global macro-trends and offering corresponding products and services to generate better margins. As part of the second horizon, ADM acquired flavor company and food and beverage solutions provider WILD Flavors which resulted in Luciano creating a Nutrition division that used rapid design-for-market capabilities to create complete product solutions for customers. As a leader, Luciano exhibited the traits of both a learner (e.g., seeking out a variety of perspectives before ultimately making key decisions himself) and a teacher (e.g., utilizing drawings, vivid analogies, and hands-on demonstrations). Luciano needed to define the company’s next horizon. He knew his general goal was sustainable growth, but balancing profitability with innovation and pace of change with durability of change could prove challenging in the years to come.

Keywords

Agriculture; Leadership; Agribusiness; Acquisition; Business Units; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Value and Value Chain; Forecasting and Prediction; Capital; Cash; Cost of Capital; Cost Management; Profit; Food; Global Range; Innovation Strategy; Leadership Development; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Growth and Development Strategy; Risk Management; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Strategic Planning; Risk and Uncertainty; Adaptation; Business Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Vertical Integration; Value Creation; Transformation; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Energy Industry; United States; Chicago

Citation

Margolis, Joshua D., David E. Bell, Damien McLoughlin, Stacy Straaberg, and James Weber. "To Feed the Planet: Juan Luciano at ADM." Harvard Business School Case 423-060, December 2022.
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About The Authors

Joshua D. Margolis

Organizational Behavior
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David E. Bell

Marketing
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More from the Authors
  • To Found or to Cofound? That is the Question By: Christina Wallace and Stacy Straaberg
  • TagHive: Edtech Pricing and Distributor Decisions By: Isamar Troncoso, Frank V. Cespedes and Stacy Straaberg
  • Lisa Su and AMD (B) By: Joshua D. Margolis, Matthew Preble and Dave Habeeb
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