Leadership and Governance

Corporate Governance and Compliance

Implicit in our corporate philosophy is the importance of sound corporate governance. The Pilgrim’s board of directors sets high standards for our team members, officers and directors, and is comprised of five independent members, ensuring that credible, expert voices help guide the direction of our business. The board is responsible for reviewing the overall operating, financial and strategic plans and performance of the company and the process by which financial and non-financial information about the company is provided to management, the board and the company’s stockholders. In addition, the board also selects and evaluates senior executives and oversees appropriate policies of corporate conduct and compliance.

The Ethics and Compliance Group (ECG) has a dual reporting structure to the Independent Advisory Board and the CEO for JBS USA and to the Board of Directors and the CFO for Pilgrim’s.

The ECG is responsible for managing the JBS USA and Pilgrim’s Ethics Line and for developing, administering and training on the policies and procedures ancillary to the Code of Conduct and Ethics, including anti-bribery/anti-corruption, anti-trust/competition, international trade and sanctions, conflicts of interest and gifts. In 2019, all Pilgrim’s team members received training on the Code of Conduct and Ethics. Additionally, all relevant Pilgrim’s team members received in-person training on anti-bribery/anti-corruption policy, including the anti-bribery laws of the U.S., the U.K. and Mexico. Pilgrim’s has a Supplier Code of Conduct, which is administered by the ECG, and requires third-party vendors to adopt and demonstrate the same commitment by following acceptable standards of business conduct and integrity and complying with all applicable laws, regulations and rules.