CALGARY, ALTA. — Viterra Inc., one of Canada’s leading agribusinesses, has opened a new office in Geneva, Switzerland, and named Christian Joerg as vice-president and managing director for Europe.

Mr. Joerg, who previously was executive director for UBS AG in Geneva, will be responsible for developing and implementing Viterra’s growth platform and global arbitrage logistics in Europe, including the expansion of Viterra’s grain marketing and origination capabilities in major grain-exporting countries in Europe and the pursuit of new value added businesses.

"We are excited to welcome Christian to our International Grain Group team," said Mayo Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of Viterra. "His experience and expertise in the global marketplace will assist us as we target new opportunities and launch our competitive presence in Europe and beyond. Our strategies are now focused on meeting the demand for healthy food ingredients around the world and Christian will be key as we strengthen international ties to leading traders and destination customers."

Prior to working at UBS AG, Mr. Joerg was head of collateral management at SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A. from 1999 to 2005. Earlier, he worked for nine years at Andre & Cie. S.A. and Garnac Grain Co. Inc. (Andre Group), a major grain trading company, with four of those years spent in the United States.