INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN. — CHS Inc. has named Carl Casale as its next president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. Mr. Casale, who most recently was executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Monsanto Co., will succeed John Johnson, who is retiring.

“The CHS Board believes that in Carl Casale we’ve found an individual whose impressive depth of domestic and global agribusiness knowledge, strategic ability, financial acumen, and leadership experience will carry CHS forward,” said Michael Toelle, CHS board chairman. “Most of all, we believe we've selected a candidate whose rural roots, active involvement in agriculture, personal style and values are compatible with our culture and our strong, producer-focused company.”

Mr. Toelle said the selection of Mr. Casale, who is 49, followed an extensive search, which included consideration of internal and external candidates.

Mr. Casale is a native of Willamette Valley in Oregon. He and his wife Kim operate a family-owned blueberry farm near Aurora, Ore. Mr. Casale joined Monsanto in 1984 as a sales representative in eastern Washington. He has held numerous sales, strategy, marketing and technology-related positions with Monsanto. Before assuming his most recent position as c.f.o. in 2009, he was executive vice-president, strategy and operations with oversight of strategy, manufacturing and information technology organizations. Earlier, he was executive vice-president, North American commercial operations.

A graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, Mr. Casale holds an executive M.B.A. from Washington University, St. Louis. The Oregon State University College of Agriculture named Mr. Casale its 2009 alumni fellow.

He has served on the board of the National 4-H Council and Agriculture Future of America.