MONTERREY, MEXICO — Raul A. Pelaez Cano has been named chief executive officer of Gruma S.A.B. de C.V., the largest maker of tortilla corn flour in Mexico. Mr. Pelaez succeeds the company’s longtime c.e.o. Roberto Gonzalez Barrera, who is 79 years old.

Since 2004, Mr. Pelaez has been chief financial officer and strategic planning officer. According to Gruma, he has played a significant role in the development of the company’s financial and business operations over the last six years.

Before joining Gruma, Mr. Pelaez held senior management positions at several businesses, including Banco Nacional de Mexico, General Electric Mexico and Inustrias Resistol.

He holds a degree in chemical engineering and an M.B.A. from the Institute Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico.
Gruma said naming Mr. Pelaez “had the favorable view” of the company’s corporate practices committee. The company went on to say the move “confirms the company’s institutional strengthening and allows it to consolidate its corporate governance pursuant to international best corporate practices.”

The leadership change at Gruma follows by about two weeks the resignation of Juan Fernando Roche as president and c.e.o. of Gruma Corp. Mr. Roche had held the post for nearly five years, since January 2006. Joel Suarez, a former c.f.o. of Mission Foods who has been chief financial officer of Gruma Corp. since 1996, has been appointed as the new president and c.e.o. of Gruma Corp.