U.S. Sugar Promotes Rob Lyke to Vice President of Savannah Sugar Refinery, Celebrates Neil Smith’s More than 20 Years of Dedicated Service at Retirement

Audio By Carbonatix

CLEWISTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 30, 2025--

U.S. Sugar today announced the retirement of Neil Smith, Senior Vice President of Sugar Manufacturing and President of the Savannah Sugar Refinery, following more than two decades of dedicated service to the Company. Rob Lyke has been promoted to Vice President of the Savannah Sugar Refinery, succeeding Smith in this key leadership role.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251030797878/en/

Rob Lyke, Vice President of the Savannah Sugar Refinery, U.S. Sugar

“Neil’s leadership, technical expertise and commitment to operational excellence have been instrumental in making our Clewiston and Savannah operations among the most efficient and reliable sugar manufacturing facilities in the world,” said Ken McDuffie, President and CEO of U.S. Sugar. “Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Neil has earned the respect of his colleagues, and served as a tireless advocate for the people who make U.S. Sugar great. Please join me in thanking Neil for his extraordinary contributions and wishing him and his wife Laura the very best in retirement.”

Since joining U.S. Sugar in 2002, Smith oversaw tremendous improvements in productivity, safety and reliability—starting with the success of Project Breakthrough, which helped transform the Company’s Clewiston mill into a global model for sugar manufacturing. Smith also launched U.S. Sugar’s Industrial Skills Training Academy (ISTA) as a program to develop the next generation of U.S. Sugar’s talent base.

With Smith’s retirement, McDuffie announced the promotion of Rob Lyke to Vice President of the Savannah Sugar Refinery. Lyke brings more than 20 years of experience in food manufacturing and sugar operations, including leadership roles in process engineering, project management, safety and operations. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and a postgraduate degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Rob has consistently demonstrated strong technical expertise, integrity and a collaborative approach to leadership that aligns with our Company’s values,” McDuffie added. “I am confident that under Rob’s leadership, our Savannah operations will continue to thrive as we pursue our mission to be the low-cost producer of sugar while sustainably feeding American families for the next 100 years.”

About U.S. Sugar

U.S. Sugar is a South Florida-based farming and processing company that sustainably grows sugarcane, citrus, sweet corn and other winter and spring vegetables that feed American families. The company was founded in 1931 by Charles Stewart Mott, a visionary leader who hailed from a long line of farmers. Since the beginning, the company’s success has been rooted in traditional farming values and respect for the land. U.S. Sugar also operates a sugar refinery in Savannah, Georgia that produces retail and store-brand sugar for customers throughout the southeast. Along with operating its 300-mile railroad, in total, U.S. Sugar sustainably farms 255,000 acres in Highlands, Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach and Martin counties in Florida and serves as a vital part of our rural communities, providing 3,000 jobs, community leadership, and philanthropic support. For more information, please visit www.ussugar.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251030797878/en/

CONTACT: Ryan Duffy

863-599-2159

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA FLORIDA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL MANUFACTURING AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES OTHER MANUFACTURING FOOD/BEVERAGE

SOURCE: U.S. Sugar

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 10/30/2025 02:37 PM/DISC: 10/30/2025 02:37 PM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251030797878/en