In a securities filing, José Aurélio Drummond Jr presented his resignation as global chief executive officer and member of the board of directors of the company.
The board members expressed their appreciation for the “commitment, dedication and significant contributions of Drummond Jr to the company”. Drummond Jr was appointed to the role in November 2017.
Its chief financial officer Lorival Noguerira Luz Jr is to become interim CEO, while Pedro Parente is to be made new chairman of the board.
Earlier this year, BRF was at the centre of a police investigation over the alleged cover-up of salmonella in poultry products. The investigation involved 270 federal police and 21 federal agricultural tax auditors, who issued 11 temporary arrest warrants.
The company had come under further pressure with the announcement that the European Union is to ban imports from numerous Brazilian plants, which were previously allowed to export products to EU member states.