Abstract. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of personnel risks and the possibilities of transition to a risk-based model of personnel management at regional agro-industrial enterprises, as the most appropriate for the requirements of the time. Methods. The study used methods of expert-analytical, program-targeted, structural-functional, systemic, comparative, morphological analysis and risk assessment. Scientific novelty. The study highlights specific personnel risks of regional agro-industrial enterprises, provides their characteristics, proposes a matrix for their assessment, gives a typology of modernization risks and analyzes compliance with the principles of effective risk management at enterprises and organizations of the regional agro-industrial complex. To improve the effectiveness of risk assessment and management, a matrix method is proposed, the advantage of which is transparent and understandable information that allows you to quickly take measures to prevent a negative event. The practical significance of the study is due to the need to develop a general synergistic strategy for managing the personnel of regional agribusiness enterprises, based on the principles of information compression, circular causality, evaluation of direct and feedback relationships, and taking into account the key (most important) risk parameters.