WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS, U.S. — Ingredion Inc. announced on Sept. 4 that Julio dos Reis, senior vice-president and president, South America Ingredient Solutions, will retire effective Dec. 31.  A native Brazilian, Ricardo de Abreu Souza will take over the role, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

de Abreu Souza joined the company's Brazilian affiliate in 1977 as a process engineer and progressed through a number of assignments, including plant manager at the Balsa Nova facility.  From 1990-94, he worked at the South American regional level in Brazil and New Jersey. He joined the company's Mexican business in 1994 as HFCS project business manager. From 1998 to 2010, he held various senior positions in the Mexican affiliate. In 2010, he was named president and general manager.

dos Reis joined the company in 1992 as its Argentine subsidiary's corporate internal audit manager and held positions of increasing responsibility, including supply chain manager and chief financial officer of that subsidiary. In 2003, he was named president and general manager of the South America's Southern Cone business before moving into his current role in September 2010.

"I am grateful for the strong leadership Julio has brought to Ingredion over his career, and we wish him all the best in his retirement," said Ilene Gordon, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to have a deep talent pool internally and to have a talented manager like Ricardo to run our South American region.”