Darling Ingredients Inc. announced that Matt Jansen has been named as Chief Operating Officer, North America. Jansen joins Darling Ingredients from StepStone Group Inc., where he served as Senior Managing Director. Jansen brings more than 30 years of executive management experience in the global agri/food industry to Darling Ingredients.

His prior roles include Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company and Chief Executive Officer of COFCO International, the overseas agriculture business platform for COFCO Corporation, China's largest food and agriculture company. Jansen also served in a number of executive roles at ADM including Chief Risk Officer and Senior Vice President; President of ADM Global Oilseeds; President ADM Grain Group; and President ADM Brazil. Rick Elrod, Executive Vice President, U.S. Rendering Operations, has informed the company of his intention to retire in April 2024, after 30 years of service.

Brandon Lairmore, currently Senior Vice President, North Central Region, will succeed Elrod. Lairmore joined Darling Ingredients in 2016 as the Regional Vice President for the North Central Region after nearly 20 years in the agriculture and meat processing industry, having held numerous operational leadership roles at Pilgrim's and Tyson Foods. He was promoted to Senior Vice President for the North Central Region in 2018.