ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US — Brandon Smith has been named executive vice president and general counsel of CHS Inc., effective late March 2021.

Smith will take over the role from the current executive vice president and general counsel James Zappa, who will assume another leadership role within CHS.

“We are excited to bring Brandon’s energy and global experience to CHS,” said Jay Debertin, president and chief executive officer of CHS. “He is a smart leader who brings a proven record of success in building relationships, delivering results and thriving in a collaborative business environment.”

Smith will be a member of the CHS strategic leadership team and will report to Debertin.

Smith brings more than 15 years of experience as a global leader and business partner focused on driving profitable growth and developing diverse teams.

Most recently, Smith was senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Tenneco Inc., a multinational industrial company. Prior to joining Tenneco in 2008, Smith was an attorney with Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Smith has a juris doctor degree from Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York, US, and a bachelor's degree from Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, US.