ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Monsanto Co.'s chief financial officer will retire at the end of November.

The St. Louis-based company announced the retirement of Terry Crews late Wednesday. He is also executive vice president. Crews is 53.

He will be succeeded by 48-year-old Carl Casale, currently executive vice president of strategy and operations. Casale actually takes over on Sept. 1, with Crews serving as a special assistant to the chief executive through Nov. 30.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.