Jon Nash, new global leader of Protein & Salt, has Cargill in his DNA
Step inside Jon Nash’s office and, right behind his desk, you’ll find a tiny museum. There’s an old Cargill cap, a black-and-white picture of Jon next to his brother and his father, Dave, and an old sign that reads: “Dave Nash, Quality producer of Cargill Honeysuckle Turkeys.”
“They keep me humble,” Jon says of these mementos — relics from the days when Cargill representatives would visit the Nash farm in the heartland of North America. It was right around that time when Jon made up his mind: he wanted to work for Cargill.
“The company, the people who met with my dad, they meant a lot for me. They were friendly and cared for my family, and I think the values that they represented stuck with me,” he recalls. He also recalls his dad praising Cargill — something that shaped Jon’s aspirations for his future.
It was no accident, therefore, that Jon joined the company right after graduate school. At age 23, he got his first job as a staff accountant at a beef processing plant in Schuyler, Nebraska, in 1998.
His dad was proud, but it’s hard to imagine either of them anticipating where Jon’s career would take him. After more than two decades of continuous, hard work and moving up the corporate ladder, Jon was just appointed as global leader of one of Cargill’s biggest enterprises: Protein and Salt (CPS).
Jon's ambition? To put in the work.
Watch an interview with any athlete and you’re bound to hear some variation of these words: It’s not about what I do on the field, it’s about the work that I do when I’m in practice. That may just be an accurate description of Jon’s career path since his first day on board.
“I knew Cargill was a big, diverse company. I knew that if I worked hard, if I delivered good results, if I treated people well, if my actions and values aligned with what the company wanted and expected, then I would have opportunities,” he says. “That’s what I cared about. I wasn’t worried about getting this position or that role. I just wanted to do a good job every single day.”
That passion for hard, committed work — Jon loves manual labor, and will spend “as much time as they let me” on the plant floor — along with a natural curiosity and an impulse to help others succeed, have formed the backbone of his career. He’s held leadership positions at Protein – North America (NA) facilities in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Fresno, California. His most recent position was as head of the Protein – North America group.
Considering this upward trajectory, one could assume that his move to CPS leader would only be a natural step. But Jon, always focused on the task at hand, was not expecting the promotion.
“I got an email from DMac (Cargill CEO, Dave MacLennan) saying he wanted to meet with me,” Jon remembers. “I had no idea what it was about.”
His initial reaction was to text Brian Sikes, who preceded him as CPS lead and was recently appointed Chief Operating Officer. Jon asked if there was anything he needed to know, but Brian played it cool and said no.
“When DMac called, he started asking normal questions about the business. Then, all of a sudden, he dropped this on me,” Jon laughs. “I don’t even know what my face looked like; he must have thought there was something wrong with me!”
Once he was able to digest it, Jon realized the immense responsibility the new position implied, and the privilege he now held to help Cargill and its people. Surprised, humbled, nervous, he did what all of us would have done: he called his mom.
“She was so proud, as were my brothers and sisters,” he says. “My dad passed away a long time ago, but he was part of it, too. It was an emotional call, for sure,” Jon says, smiling.
Originally published for Cargill’s internal employee audience. 
“Favorite movie? Star Wars all day, man! No kidding, I remember driving down with my dad to collect payment from Cargill in California, Missouri. We got that check, and my dad took us to McDonald’s and the movies. That was the first time I ever saw Star Wars. And then no more movies until the next check!”
Do the right thing today, every day
Jon is acutely aware of the weight that he now carries on his shoulders. He knows his responsibility to run a good business goes far beyond the numbers and earnings. At the end of the day, it’s about the people.
“For me, as a leader, to do the right thing means that our people are able to pay their bills, take care of their families and put their kids through college. I think about this every single day. I have a huge responsibility to do the right thing for them.”
That’s not a burden, though. The challenge is colossal, but he faces it with a hunger and confidence in the team that he’s been tasked to lead. He’s also inherited a finely tuned machine; the business is in prime position to grow. The future for CPS is bright, Jon believes.
No, scratch that last bit: Jon knows.
“We’re going to diversify our portfolio and our operations. We will grow with our customers. We will add seafood to our portfolio, and we’ll do great business in alternative proteins. We will be a sustainability leader; we’re already working so hard on that,” Jon says. “And we will absolutely provide our people with growing opportunities, we will show our people that we care about them and their families, and we will have an inclusive, equitable and diverse team.”
“I never think about the next job. If you’re always looking ahead, there’s a chance you’re missing out. Do the best job you can today and take care from those around you. It matters. Always.”
A fan of country music and the Grateful Dead, a wine connoisseur and an amateur golfer, Jon is also a fan of history books. There’s a reason: history is a teacher and Jon is always eager to learn.
So, what of his own Cargill history? If he had to pick a favorite moment since he joined in 1998, what would it be?
“They’re all family related,” he said. “So many memories with my dad and the family farm. If I’m smart and know how to answer, I’d say it’s meeting my wife. She did my new-hire paperwork on my very first day,” Jon recalls with a laugh.
“But overall, I just love being at the plants, working as a team, elbow to elbow with your people. Plants are a special place. You will never keep me away from them."