Nufarm appoints two non-executive directors. Strengthens global innovation focus

19 Jun 2023

Nufarm Limited (Nufarm, ASX:NUF) announced the appointment of Adrian Percy and Federico Tripodi as independent, non-executive directors of the Nufarm Board.

Nufarm Chair, John Gillam said, “We are delighted that Adrian and Federico have agreed to join Nufarm’s Board. Being able to attract such high calibre people supports Nufarm’s evolution as an agricultural innovator and will help accelerate development within our unique technology platforms.

“Both directors are based in North America and bring a wealth of agri-sector experience covering both cutting-edge innovation and the largest global markets. I am confident with the addition of Adrian and Federico to the Board, we have the right mix of diversity, skills and experience to successfully guide and drive Nufarm’s growth.

These appointments are the final step in a three-year board renewal process, which will conclude later this year with the previously announced retirements of long serving directors Peter Margin and Gordon Davis.

 

Adrian Percy

Adrian is currently the inaugural Executive Director of the NC Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University.

He has more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural sector, with previous roles as Chief Technology Officer of UPL Ltd and Head of Research and Development for the Crop Science Division of Bayer. In the latter role, he was a member of their Executive Committee with responsibility for internal and open innovation activities in the areas of crop protection chemistry and biologicals, as well as seeds and traits. During his 25-year tenure at Bayer, he also held numerous positions in agricultural research and development.

Adrian is a Venture Partner at Finistere Ventures LLC, a technology and life sciences venture capital investor. He also serves on the board of directors of BioLumic, AgPlenus, FA Bio and Evogene.

Adrian holds a BSc from University of Liverpool, an MSc in Toxicology from University of Birmingham and a PhD in Biochemistry from University of Birmingham.

He will take up his appointment to the Nufarm board with effect from 1 July 2023 and will stand for election at Nufarm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February 2024.

 

Federico Tripodi

Federico has close to three-decades of involvement in the agri-food sector with his experience spanning general management, research and development, corporate strategy and the commercialization of novel plant biotechnologies targeted for consumers and farmers. Federico currently serves as Chairman at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). He is also the Founder and CEO of Blacktop Holdings, a boutique venture lab that offers strategic and operating partnership services to rapidly growing Ag Tech, Food and Agribusiness companies, their investors and research institutions.

From 2016 to 2018, Federico served as the CEO of Calyxt Inc. (NASDAQ:CLXT), a company that develops healthier food ingredients by applying a new breeding technology.

Prior to Calyxt, Federico worked at Monsanto Company for nearly two decades where his primary focus was developing health, sustainability and renewable energy crop products in the United States and Latin America.

Federico holds an MBA from Washington University’s Olin Business School, as well as an agronomic engineering degree from Buenos Aires University.

He will take up his appointment to the Nufarm board with effect from today’s date and will stand for election at Nufarm’s AGM in February 2024.