Davis, California, USA
July 6, 2020
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., (NASDAQ: MBII), an international leader in providing growers with sustainable bioprotection and plant health solutions to global agricultural needs, today announced the appointment of Kevin Helash as its new chief executive officer. Concurrent with joining the company, he will be appointed to serve as a member of the board of directors. Helash, 55, a native of Manitoba, Canada, will join the company as early as August 1, 2020. His effective date is pending receipt of permanent residency status or the applicable visa, both of which are in process.
A 28-plus-year agricultural industry veteran, Helash comes to Marrone Bio from Agrinos AS, a global-scale biological crop input provider specializing in biofertilizers and biostimulant products. As chief executive officer of Agrinos since November 2017, Helash has led a major restructuring and transformation of the company to create a platform for future long-term growth.
Prior to joining Agrinos, Helash was a vice president and corporate officer with Agrium (now Nutrien Ltd.), one of the world’s largest agricultural product distributors. During his 26-year career, he held senior management roles leading global sales, marketing, logistics and supply chain strategies. In international leadership positions for Agrium spanning the Americas and Europe, he interfaced directly with growers, retail and wholesale distributors, and investors. As head of the company’s Canadian retail operations, Helash grew the organization to a multi-billion-dollar revenue entity, and led the successful acquisition and integration of Viterra’s retail agribusiness to create the largest agricultural retail organization in Canada.
“After a comprehensive search process, we are delighted to have someone with Kevin’s extensive experience in the agricultural industry join Marrone Bio as we continue to drive the company toward profitability through a combination of revenue growth, margin expansion and cost management,” said Bob Woods, chairman of the board. “His passion for and leadership in the biologicals space -- coupled with his track record of delivering key operational and financial objectives -- make him the ideal candidate to take Marrone Bio to its next level of success.”
“Marrone Bio has a strong reputation of delivering innovative, sustainable solutions to its customers, and I’m excited to be part of the next chapter in its business evolution,” Helash said. “The company has made significant strides in its commercial operations, driving revenue growth and gross margin expansion. Recent initiatives and R&D advancements have strengthened its position as a unique leader in the biologicals industry, with top-of-mind awareness among growers, distributors and potential partners.
“In joining Marrone Bio, I will have the good fortune of being surrounded by a great team that is highly versed in agriculture and the key role biologicals play in a more sustainable – and profitable – future for farmers around the world,” Helash added. “I look forward to building on a results-oriented, customer-driven culture to achieve our goals as we move along the path to profitability.”
Helash replaces Dr. Pamela Marrone, founder of Marrone Bio, who announced her intention to retire as CEO in December 2019. Dr. Marrone will remain with Marrone Bio as CEO until Helash’s first day of employment, and thereafter will continue to serve as a non-employee director of the company.
“Pam has guided Marrone Bio from technology concept to commercial success, and has been a tireless advocate for the important role biological solutions have to play in sustainable agriculture,” Woods said. “We are grateful for her vision and leadership, and are delighted that she will continue to serve the company as a member of the board of directors and a consultant.”
To Our Shareholders:
As was announced today, it is my distinct privilege to take on the leadership of Marrone Bio as its next chief executive officer. I am grateful to the board of directors for its support, and I share in its vision to build on the company’s recent successes and drive a clear path to profitability for our shareholders.
When I join Marrone Bio later this quarter, I will have the good fortune to be surrounded by a great team that is highly versed in agriculture and the key role biologicals play in a more sustainable – and profitable – future for farmers around the world. This team, under Dr. Pamela Marrone’s leadership, has turned the promise of new technologies into a commercially viable and thriving entity. I look forward to exploring with the team how we can accelerate our growth – and our success – by building on a results-oriented, customer-driven culture to achieve our goals.
I believe my 28-plus-year tenure in the agricultural industry puts me in a unique position to not only recognize the potential in Marrone Bio and its unique portfolio of biological products, but also to help realize the full value of that potential. My tenure as CEO of Agrinos has provided me with first-hand experience in the power biological products can deliver to growers. My 26 years with Agrium have provided me with extensive knowledge of the global distribution network and how to bring the promise of a new technology on farm. I believe those experiences can complement the accomplishments of the team at Marrone Bio.
Last year was a critical inflection point for Marrone Bio, as it delivered substantial revenue growth and gross margin expansion. The additions of the Pro Farm and Jet-Ag product lines significantly broadened the company’s global market access in the biologicals space. The company also reported significant progress with its best-in-class R&D programs, most notably positive field trials results for its novel bioherbicide and a next-generation insecticide/nematicide.
I mention these achievements, because, as a new CEO, it is exciting to join an organization that is poised to maximize its potential. We have the opportunity to capitalize on this momentum and deliver a clear path toward profitability and positive cash flow in the near-term. I look forward to discussing some of these opportunities further at the company’s conference call for its second-quarter financial results. In the meantime, this is my rough framework of where I believe our team can excel:
- Maximize the potential of the company’s existing product portfolio and the BioUnite strategy, building on its positive relations with and sales to key distributors and growers.
- Leverage the contributions from recent acquisitions, realizing synergies and commercializing a larger product portfolio through a broader global distribution network.
- Continue to monetize Marrone Bio’s unique R&D pipeline, leveraging strategic investments and partnerships.
- Drive operational and financial excellence, with a focus on profitability and positive cash flow.
- Continue to explore strategic options that broaden the company’s portfolio and create a breakthrough presence in the biologicals space.
- Invest in the development of employees to ensure the company is attracting and retaining best-in-class talent.
This is, of course, my list, and I want to hear your ideas, get your feedback and create an open dialogue with you, our owners. Like you, I will be an equity holder in the company, and I am fully vested in our mutual success. Although in-person meetings may be constrained at this time, I am hopeful that in the near-term I will have the opportunity to meet virtually with many of you. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance.
I am highly enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the great team at Marrone Bio, and look forward to building on its success.
Sincerely,
Kevin Helash
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