CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — Viterra Inc. announced on Sept. 28 that James (Jim) R. Bell has been appointed senior vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary effective Oct. 18.

Bell will bring more than 20 years of international experience to Viterra's leadership team to support the development and execution of international and North American growth strategies. Bell will hold the most senior legal position within Viterra, reporting directly to the president and chief executive officer (CEO). He will provide counsel on transactions, capital market activities, securities law, business investments, best practices, corporate governance, and emerging global trends. He will also act as the corporate secretary and support the board and its committees. He will join the team in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

"We are very pleased to welcome Jim to Viterra. His extensive international experience as a senior legal counsel complements and adds depth to Viterra's talented leadership team as we reach for excellence in all our pursuits and heighten our position as a premier, global food ingredients company," said Mayo Schmidt, president and CEO, Viterra Inc.

"We have created a successful enterprise, with a sophisticated infrastructure that supports our multiple points of origination and our growing commitments to new and existing customers located in over 50 countries. Represented on four continents, we have talented international leaders and employees who understand the particular needs of each of our global regions. Through their business acumen and multilingual and intercultural approaches, we are further positioning Viterra to meet the world's escalating food demands now and in the future. As a key member of our leadership team, Jim will draw on his substantial international legal background to build on Viterra's accomplishments and, with our team, bring greater long-term value to our customers and our shareholders," said Schmidt.

Most recently Bell served as vice-president, legal and associate general counsel of Talisman Energy Inc., managing the legal function for International Operations West, which included overseeing transactions in the North Sea, Continental Europe, Africa and South America. Prior to his 10 years at Talisman Energy, he spent nine years with Nova Corp., holding senior leadership positions and providing legal and strategic advice on all of Nova's international pipeline and gas services investments. Bell's experience in these roles encompassed a broad range of duties, including capital markets, securities law compliance, particularly regulatory acts, transactions (mergers, acquisitions and divestitures), commercial investments and corporate governance, ethics and compliance.