Verdant Partners LLC has formed a separate business unit named Verdant AgriBusiness Consultants. Headquartered in Illinois, the new unit will provide confidential strategic advice and business management direction for privately held companies, public corporations, technology companies and other organizations that depend on production agriculture. Michael Mazzocco will become Director of Verdant AgriBusiness Consultants.
David Armstrong is the new President and CEO of Sakata Seed America, replacing Paul Bennett, who is retiring after 12 years as Sakata’s President and CEO. Armstrong will oversee research, production, marketing and distribution operations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Central America. Ko Matsunaga, Sakata’s Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, has also retired and the position of Vice-President and CFO has been separated. Jerry Reimer has been appointed Vice-President and Kazuyuki Matsuoka has been appointed CFO.
Advanced Biological Marketing has promoted Marty Robinson to President of ABM Agriculture Division LLC and he will oversee all aspects of ABM’s U.S. Agriculture Division. Don Bland has been named President of ABM International Division LLC to develop additional international markets as well as continue working with U.S. seed accounts. Brian Zuercher has been promoted to President of ABM Performance Solutions Division LLC, while Chad Pugh has been named President of ABM Production Division LLC.
Michiel van Lookeren Campagne has joined Syngenta to lead global biotechnology research and development at both of the company’s key biotech facilities – Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., located in North Carolina and Syngenta Biotechnology China Co. Ltd. located in Beijing. Van Lookeren Campagne will serve as President of Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. Prior to joining Syngenta, he was Head of BioScience Research at Bayer CropScience.
The American Seed Trade Association has named Julie Douglas as Director of Communications. Douglas will be
DECEMBER 2009
responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing ASTA’s communications strategies to promote the policies and activities of the seed industry. Anna Burks has also been hired as Manager of International and Domestic Programs. Burks will manage the international department’s U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperator funded programs and will help the government affairs and communication departments.
Leif Kjaergaard has joined AgriCapital Advisors and will serve the special needs of agribusiness companies with his strong strategic and developmental skills in the life and food science areas. Kjaergaard serves as President of Leif and Food Science, as well as a Senior Advisor in Research Policy for the EU Commission and the Danish government.
Heritage Seeds has expanded into Michigan with its corn and soybean seed products by hiring two district sales managers. Chad Hubble will cover the western portion of the state while Ben Hoyt will cover central Michigan.
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