Cargill China president Robert Aspell receives Shanghai award
The city of Shanghai has honored Cargill's president in China and managing director for the company's agriculture business for North Asia, Robert Aspell, conferring on him the highly coveted Shanghai Magnolia Gold Award for 2017 in recognition of the outstanding professional and personal contributions he has made to the development of Shanghai.
Joined by 10 other recipients, Aspell received the award from the city mayor, Mr. Ying Yong, during an award ceremony held in Shanghai.
Named after the city flower, the Magnolia Gold Award was created by the Shanghai municipal government in 1989 to recognise foreigners who have contributed to the social and economic development of Shanghai, and is given only to a few recipients each year.
Upon receiving the award, Aspell thanked Shanghai, adding he was "humbled to receive the award from this great city".
"This award is not just for me. More importantly, it is a recognition of Cargill and all of our associates in China", he said.
He further said: "Cargill's purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, and Shanghai, where we have established our China headquarters, plays a vital role as we work together with our many partners to provide safe and nutritious food to Chinese consumers. And I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Jing'an District for the strong support that Cargill has received over the years. We are committed to the country and will continue to invest in Shanghai and China".
Aspell has lived in Shanghai since 2005. He became president of the commodities trader in China in 2009, and under his leadership Cargill has doubled its investment in China in the past seven years. The company today is present in more than 50 locations across the country and employs more than 10,000 people. Shanghai has functioned as a cornerstone and hub.
In addition, Aspell has led Cargill's efforts to drive sustainability in agriculture and to enrich the communities where the company operates. This year, Cargill's two programmes on sustainable agriculture and environmental protection were chosen as "Outstanding Environmental Protection Cases" by Jing'an District of Shanghai.
