The former CEO of Syngenta for South America, Antonio Aracre, will serve as chief presidential advisor starting February 1. After working for 36 years in the agribusiness company, Aracre decided to retire from the private sector and “dream about new challenges,” he tweeted last October.

Yesterday, Aracre met with president Alberto Fernández, briefly addressing press afterwards. “I’m interested in bringing together the private world and the world of investments with the public sector, to capitalize and leverage every opportunity we have,” he said.

Aracre also emphasized the importance of a “tax reform” and the creation of a bureau that includes “the government, the opposition, the world of work and the trade unions.” The 56-year-old also highlighted “the need for a distributive shock and the idea of a fixed-sum [salary rise].”

Aracre is tasked with coordinating the Presidency’s Council of Advisors, “a team of professionals and scholars that work to generate political content by supplying a view on society and the state of the administration,” according to an official communiqué. The council includes Adriana Puiggrós (education), Dora Barrancos (gender politics), and the philosopher and historian Ricardo Forster. Anthropologist Alejandro Grimson was a member until December, when he resigned. Cecilia Nicolini, secretary of Climate Change since February, has also participated.

Last July, Aracre made headlines when he met with former Economy Minister Martín Guzmán. “Like when he was a minister, today we keep talking with Martín Guzmán about the need to build a consensus for a stronger Argentina, one with less inequality and more opportunities for growth,” he wrote back then.

The ex-Syngenta CEO described his appointment as “a dream come true”, tweeting: “It has a special meaning for those of humble beginnings and who believe in upward mobility.” He describes himself on the site as politically liberal and economically progressive.

Declaraciones del empresario Antonio Aracre (@tonyaracre) al término de la reunión con el presidente Alberto Fernández (@alferdez), que asumirá como asesor del primer mandatario. pic.twitter.com/WyLYkgbyYd

— Casa Rosada (@CasaRosada) January 3, 2023