MONSANTO PRESIDENT RESIGNS; SHARES FALL

December 18, 2002
Associated Press/Reuters

ST. LOUIS  -- Related wire coverage notes that Monsanto president 
and chief executive Hendrik Verfaillie has resigned effective immediately,
ending a 26-year career at the agricultural products company.

Board chairman Frank AtLee III will serve as interim CEO while a
search is conducted, the release said.

No reason was stated for the changes in the release. But the 
company has reported big losses this year on declining sales.

Calls to the company's St. Louis headquarters were not returned.