Shirley Cunningham

Biography

Shirley Cunningham is executive vice president, Ag Business and Enterprise Strategy, for CHS Inc, the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. In her role, she leads the company’s aligned Ag Business platform consisting of its International and North America Grain Marketing and Agronomy (Crop Nutrients) operations. She is also responsible for CHS Enterprise Strategy functions including information technology, human resources, marketing, communications, planning and strategy. Cunningham joined CHS as executive vice president, Enterprise Strategy, in April 2013 and assumed her expanded responsibilities in September 2014. Prior to joining CHS, Cunningham was the chief information officer for Monsanto Company and has more than 25 years of experience in information technology and business management including leading global IT operations, acquisitions, IT research and development, strategic planning and enterprise initiatives. She was also responsible for developing and executing Monsanto’s quality oils strategy. In addition to broad business expertise, Cunningham has extensive global experience, having led Europe, Middle East and Africa IT operations for Monsanto. She also held leadership positions with several companies in the United Kingdom. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.  She currently serves on the board of directors of Ardent Mills, LLC, Ventura Foods, LLC and TEMCO, LLC. 

Research Interest

Global IT operations, acquisitions, IT research and development, strategic planning and enterprise initiatives