The board of directors of Cargill has elected David W. MacLennan as chairman of the board.

MINNEAPOLIS — The board of directors of Cargill has elected David W. MacLennan as chairman of the board. Mr. MacLennan currently is president and chief executive officer, roles he will continue to hold. Gregory R. Page will step down as executive chairman and continue to serve on the board as an executive director of the company.

“The board appreciates David’s leadership and management of the company,” Mr. Page said. “We have the highest confidence he will deliver long-term growth for Cargill. Now is the time for him to lead the board as well.”

Mr. MacLennan joined Cargill in 1991 and has held various leadership positions within the financial, risk management, energy and animal protein businesses in the United States, London and Geneva. He left the company in 2000 to become president of Fixed Income Capital Markets at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray and returned to Cargill in 2002. In 2008 he was named chief financial officer and elected to the board of directors. He was elected president and chief operating officer in 2011, and c.e.o. in 2013.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a master of business administration degree from the University of Chicago.