Western Seed announced that ir. Sjaan Hopmans has been named Research & Development Director of the Western Seed Group, effective November 2004. This business grouping includes Western Seed España S.A. - Western Seed 2000, S.L. – Uniseed S.L. - Western Seed Maroc S.A.R.L. - Western Seed Middle East S.A.R.L. - Western Seed Italia J.V.C. S.R.L. - Western Seed International B.V. - Western Seed Americas, Inc. - Western Seed Argentina, S.A. - Western Seed Co. Mexico S.A. de C.V. and Western Seed Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Western Seed is known as a unique breeding company in the industry. Hopmans, 48, succeeds ir. Gerard van Vliet, who will continue to serve as an advisor for the group. Hopmans will join the management team and will be based at the headquarters of the Western Seed Group in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands.

“Western had a breakthrough in long shelf-life tomatoes. Sjaan is the perfect person to continue and repeat this success story. He understands the research and development programs, knows the people and the history of the company. Together with his management experience, market and seed production knowledge he will become an important player in the management team and for the continuing growth of Western Seed. Sjaan will also become responsible for the incorporation of new developments, such as marker-assisted breeding” said Alois van Vliet, Managing Director of  Western Seed.

Hopmans started his career at the Agricultural University of Wageningen in 1984. In 1986 he spent two years at the International Potato Research Center in Peru. Hopmans joined Vander Have in 1988 and has held a variety of plant breeder positions in this company. Recently he was plant breeder onions for Advanta Seeds, The Netherlands. Hopmans has a M.Sc. Engineer Degree in Plant-breeding and Phytopathology from Wageningen Agricultural University in NL (1984)