Walnut Creek, California, USA
July 10, 2009
Jim Blome today was named executive vice president (EVP) and
chief operating officer (COO) of
Valent U.S.A. Corporation. In his new role, Blome will
oversee all day-to-day operations of the company's growing
agricultural, professional and consumer products business units
in the United States and Canada.
"Jim brings a wealth of industry experience to this role,
combined with outstanding leadership skills. I am confident he
will add significant value to this key affiliate of Sumitomo
Chemical Company, Limited," said Mike Donaldson, president and
chief executive officer of Valent U.S.A. Corporation, Valent
BioSciences Corporation and the Latin America and Mexico Regions
of Sumitomo Chemical. "Our industry is rapidly changing with the
creation of many new opportunities. Valent U.S.A. is focused on
providing best-in-class, value-added solutions to customers in
every major market segment—and Jim is the right person to help
us meet that vision."
In his new position, Blome will work closely with Valent's
leadership team to continue the company's strong growth, which
in recent years has included several introductions of new
products and active ingredients. This trend is expected to
continue as the company gears up for the introduction of
additional new products for agricultural crops, seed protection
initiatives, professional markets and consumer home and garden
uses. In addition, Valent U.S.A. is the leader in marketing and
selling biorational products supplied by Valent BioSciences
Corporation and will be reinforcing the sales and marketing of
these products into 2010.
"Valent offers some of the most effective, innovative and
respected products available today. It's extremely rewarding to
be a part of a company with such a strong reputation for
products and service. Of particular importance is the business
diversity, which includes leadership positions in multiple
market segments, as well as being the only company with a
diversified portfolio of both traditional and biorational
products," Blome said. "In addition, Valent is pursuing a host
of exciting new opportunities which will provide our current and
potential customers the value they have come to expect from our
company's products. It's an exciting time, and I firmly believe
the best is yet to come."
For nearly 25 years, Blome has worked in various sales,
marketing, business and product development roles in the global
agricultural and crop protection industries. He has held a range
of management and leadership roles at such industry-leading
companies as Agriliance LLC, FMC Corporation, Agtrol Chemical
Products, Griffin Corporation and Nufarm Limited. Prior to
joining Valent, he oversaw crop protection, fertilizer and
agricultural retail projects for AgriCapital Corporation, where
he managed mergers, acquisitions and capitalization for leading
agricultural and biotechnology companies.
Originally from Hubbard, Iowa, Blome holds a bachelor's degree
in agronomy from Iowa State University. He also has completed
additional business and marketing programs at the University of
Northern Iowa, the Wharton School of Business at the University
of Pennsylvania and the Kellogg School of Management at
Northwestern University in Chicago. |
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