Archer Daniels Midland Company has selected Chicago as the location for its global headquarters and customer center.
“While we considered other global hubs, Chicago emerged as the best location to provide efficient access to global markets while maintaining our close connections with U.S. farmers, customers and operations,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. “Chicago also provides an environment where we can attract and retain employees with diverse skills, and where their family members can find ample career opportunities.
“In keeping with our intention to establish our global center in a cost-effective manner, we expect to locate a small corporate team of about 50 to 75 employees in the new center,” Woertz added.
In addition, Woertz noted that the company will now evaluate alternative sites for its new information technology and support center, where it expects to locate about 100 new IT jobs. The company said it will continue to consider potential locations for the IT center in several states and expects to make a decision by mid-year 2014.
Woertz noted that one of the options the company considered was a comprehensive plan that would have established both a larger global headquarters and the information technology center in one location and included state government support and multiyear commitments to stakeholders. However, that plan could not be realized within ADM’s timeframe.
“We decided to move forward in the way that best meets our organizational objectives,” Woertz said.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday he was pleased with the decision.
“I wanted to personally make sure that all of this was on display for ADM and that we took nothing for granted. We were successful in keeping the company in Illinois and I think they’ll thrive in Chicago,” Emanuel said.
Woertz noted that ADM will continue to have a significant presence in Decatur, which will be designated the company’s North American headquarters, and that the company does not plan any layoffs in connection with the move to a new global center.
“We appreciate the interest and support expressed by many civic and governmental leaders as we have considered a variety of options for our new global center,” Woertz said. “We look forward to finalizing the selection of a site in Chicago soon, and to accelerating the selection of a suitable location for our IT center.”
