Vancouver, Washington, United States, June 2024 – Claude Balestra has joined United Malt Group, Malteries Soufflet, as the new Chief Financial Officer. Bringing extensive experience in international finance and strategic planning, Claude will play a critical role in overseeing the company’s financial operations and driving growth initiatives across the Americas and APAC regions.
Claude Balestra previously served as the Vice President of International Finance at Trident Seafoods from May 2023 to June 2024, where he was responsible for strategic planning, financial oversight, and international tax strategies. His leadership ensured the successful advancement of the company’s international business unit.
Prior to Trident Seafoods, Claude spent over 25 years at Cargill in various leadership roles. From August 2020 to July 2022, he served as the Vice President, Finance Transformation Lead, where he led global programs to modernize finance processes and data technology, delivering significant business results and annual savings of over $45M. From November 2017 to August 2020, he was the Vice President, Chief Audit Executive, leading the global audit department and implementing best practices for internal audit functions.
Claude’s earlier roles at Cargill include Regional Finance Director for Latin America, Latin America Regional Shared Services Leader, and Business Finance Leader for Agricultural Supply Chain and Poultry & Pork Processing. Throughout his tenure, he managed large teams, optimized financial processes, and drove strategic business growth.
Before joining Cargill, Claude worked at Santista as a Costing Analyst from September 1994 to June 1997, where he gained foundational experience in costing and inventory valuation.
Malteries Soufflet is a leading international malt producer with an annual production capacity of 2,280,000 tonnes. Through its integrated management of the barley sector, Malteries Soufflet meets the highest specifications of its brewing customers, from the selection of barley varieties to the production of premium malt. The company operates malt houses in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, ensuring a global presence and the ability to provide top-quality malts worldwide.
As a key player in the industry, Malteries Soufflet’s experts manage every aspect of production to deliver the finest malts, maintaining stringent quality control from field to pint. The company’s commitment to excellence and innovation has solidified its reputation as a trusted partner for brewers globally.
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