FMC Corporation Appoints Sara Velazquez Ponessa as General Counsel
FMC Corporation, a globally recognized leader in agricultural sciences and listed on the NYSE, has officially announced the appointment of Sara Velazquez Ponessa as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, effective June 1, 2025. FMC Corporation This leadership transition comes as Michael F. Reilly, the company’s long-serving general counsel, prepares to retire on July 1, 2025. The company has articulated a robust succession plan to ensure a smooth and seamless leadership handover.
FMC Corporation Michael Reilly’s tenure at FMC Corporation spans more than two decades, beginning in 2002 when he joined as group counsel for the Agricultural Solutions business. Over the years, Reilly steadily ascended through a series of progressively senior roles. His journey culminated in his promotion to Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary in April 2019. During his leadership, Reilly provided critical legal and strategic counsel through a dynamic period of corporate evolution for FMC.
Under Reilly’s legal stewardship, FMC Corporation FMC executed numerous significant strategic initiatives that redefined its identity and market positioning. These efforts included high-impact acquisitions, strategic divestitures, and the restructuring necessary to solidify FMC’s transformation into a focused, science-driven agricultural enterprise. His strategic insight and legal acumen were widely credited with steering the company through challenging regulatory environments and evolving global markets.
FMC Corporation Before joining FMC, Reilly developed a rich portfolio of legal expertise at Zeneca Inc., Zeneca Ag Products Inc., and Syngenta Corporation. He also spent time in private legal practice with distinguished law firms such as Sidley & Austin and Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll. Throughout his career, Reilly demonstrated unwavering integrity, a nuanced understanding of corporate law, and the ability to balance legal rigor with strategic flexibility.
FMC Corporation Pierre Brondeau, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Corporation, praised Reilly’s contributions, stating, “Michael has been an invaluable member of our executive leadership team. His thoughtful counsel, unwavering integrity, and strategic insight have played an essential role in guiding FMC through some of the most transformative periods in our history. As he prepares for retirement, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for his exceptional service and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”
FMC Corporation Stepping into this critical role is Sara Velazquez Ponessa, who is no stranger to FMC. From 2012 to 2018, Ponessa served as Senior Business Counsel at FMC, during which time she contributed significantly to the company’s legal operations. Her return to FMC brings full circle a distinguished career that has included leadership roles at prominent chemical and materials companies.
FMC Corporation Following her tenure at FMC, Ponessa served as the first General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Livent Corporation. At Livent, she played a pivotal role in overseeing the legal processes involved in the company’s successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2018 and its subsequent spinoff from FMC in 2019. These milestones were foundational in establishing Livent as a standalone publicly traded entity focused on lithium technologies.
FMC Corporation Most recently, Ponessa held the position of Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Arcadium Lithium plc. There, she was responsible for overseeing the global legal and compliance functions. Her leadership at Arcadium, a company specializing in lithium chemicals, further strengthened her capabilities in navigating complex legal environments and providing strategic business counsel on a global scale.
Brondeau emphasized Ponessa’s strengths and the strategic value she brings to the executive team: “Sara brings exceptional experience and a strong track record to the general counsel role. Her previous tenure at FMC, coupled with her leadership roles at Livent and Arcadium Lithium, gives her a rare and valuable perspective. Her demonstrated ability to manage complex legal and regulatory challenges, as well as her commitment to operational excellence, makes her ideally suited to lead our global legal and compliance functions. We are very pleased to welcome her back to FMC.”
Ponessa is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Spanish from Rutgers College. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has actively contributed to the broader legal community through her involvement with the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania. These affiliations underscore her commitment to diversity, inclusion, and mentorship within the legal profession.
Ponessa will officially assume her new responsibilities on June 1, 2025. To ensure a smooth transition, Michael Reilly will begin working closely with her starting April 28, 2025. This phased approach to leadership handover is part of FMC’s strategic effort to maintain continuity and stability across its executive functions.
The appointment of Sara Velazquez Ponessa comes at a time when FMC continues to expand its innovation capabilities and market presence across key agricultural regions globally. Her expertise is expected to further reinforce FMC’s strategic focus on legal risk management, global regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and sustainability. With Ponessa at the helm of the legal department, FMC aims to continue its trajectory of responsible growth, scientific leadership, and value creation for stakeholders worldwide.
This leadership transition also reflects FMC’s broader commitment to nurturing talent with a deep understanding of its corporate culture and strategic objectives. Bringing back a former legal executive who has grown into a seasoned leader in the broader industry underscores the company’s ability to build and sustain long-term talent pipelines.
As FMC looks to the future, the integration of Ponessa’s leadership within the executive team is poised to advance its strategic initiatives, drive compliance excellence, and deepen stakeholder trust in a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape. Her return marks not just a change in personnel, but a strategic step forward in maintaining the company’s strong legal foundation while innovating for a sustainable agricultural future.
