(Adds comment about stake decision, background on SQM)
By Rod Nickel
NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - Governance changes at Chile lithium producer SQM SQMa.SN , which give shareholder Potash Corp of Saskatchewan POT.TO greater influence, do not reflect any intent by Potash to raise its stake, Potash Corp's chief executive said on Thursday.
Three top shareholders in SQM have agreed to change the way board decisions are made at the global supplier of lithium, a move that will see controlling shareholder Julio Ponce cede some power and Canada's Potash Corp gain more say. doesn't demonstrate any intention," CEO Jochen Tilk told Reuters in New York. "We'll move forward on improved governance and that's really all that there is at this point - no reflection on any further strategic thinking."
Potash Corp holds just over 30 percent of SQM and has three board seats. Tilk has previously said it is reviewing whether to increase or divest that stake, and shares in three other companies.
Those decisions will be made after a planned merger between Potash and Agrium Inc AGU.TO , which is scheduled to close in mid-2017, Tilk said.