Bailey Nurseries names Jorge Becerra new CEO

In a news release, Bailey Nurseries announced the appointment of Jorge Becerra as chief executive officer. This milestone is the result of an intentional and collaborative process by the Bailey family, executive team and advisers to identify a leader with the experience, values and expertise to guide Bailey forward.

Photo © Bailey Nurseries

Fourth-generation family member Terri McEnaney will transition from CEO to board chair. This transition marks the company’s move to its first-ever non-family CEO in its 120-year history. According to the company's release, it was driven by a shared vision to bring in complementary leadership that honors Bailey’s roots while preparing it for the future.

“This moment is the result of years of planning to evolve our structure while continuing to support the Bailey Nurseries team, our customers and partners, and our core values,” McEnaney said. “Jorge brings not only deep global experience in agriculture, but also a genuine curiosity, a people-first approach and strong alignment with who we are and where we’re going.”

Becerra grew up in Ecuador, where his father expanded the family business beyond cattle ranching to include one of the country’s first commercial shrimp farms. He later earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in aquaculture from Texas A&M University, combining his agricultural roots with advanced expertise.

“What drew me to Bailey was the culture and values,” Becerra said. “It resonated with me at a very personal level — the way I was raised, the way I’ve conducted business my whole career.”

Over the course of 25 years at Cargill, a large family-owned global agriculture business, he held leadership roles globally. Most recently, he served in leadership roles within Cargill’s Animal Nutrition & Health businesses, solidifying his deep connection to agriculture.

“After spending my career focused on producing food that nourishes our bodies, I’ve come to see horticulture as a different kind of nourishment: one that improves lives and brings beauty to the world,” he added. “That’s incredibly inspiring to me, and I’m honored to help shape the future of a company with such a meaningful legacy. I’m especially looking forward to connecting with our customers and industry partners to learn from them and support their continued success.”

These transitions are effective immediately, with both Becerra and McEnaney working at Bailey’s main office in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“Leading Bailey Nurseries for the past 24 years has been the greatest honor of my career, and I am deeply grateful to have worked alongside such talented and dedicated people,” McEnaney said. “As I step into my new role, I could not be more confident in Bailey’s future. Jorge’s global perspective, leadership and genuine curiosity make him an exceptional fit to guide our company and industry forward. My pride in Bailey and my belief in its continued success are stronger than ever.”

Watch a video welcoming Becerra to Bailey Nurseries here.