At A Glance
Becker Underwood is expanding its North American Seed Enhancement Business Unit into two business units — Inoculants and Seed Enhancements. The change is a result of its rapidly expanding business in seed colorants and polymers, seed coating services and inoculants. The Inoculants Business Unit will be headed by industry veteran Paul Holliday. Holliday previously worked for Bayer CropScience and oversaw all seed protectants used on corn, soybean and sorghum crops. Bill Romp has been promoted to manage the Seed Enhancement Business Unit.
Ames, Iowa — As a result of its rapidly expanding businesses in seed colorants and polymers, seed coating services and inoculants, Becker Underwood has announced major changes to its North American Seed Enhancement Business Unit. Becker Underwood will expand the current business to form two new units, an Inoculants Business Unit and Seed Enhancements Business Unit.
“This business unit will be dedicated to our growing inoculants business and will enable us to arrange our business around our inoculants customers, including distributors, retailers and growers, and emphasize the products and technologies that best fit into this market channel,” says Peter Innes, chief executive officer of Becker Underwood.
The Inoculants Business Unit will be headed by seed-industry veteran Paul Holliday, beginning on January 2, 2007. In this newly created post, Holliday will oversee all sales and marketing activities, and all inoculants manufacturing operations in the United States and Canada.
“Paul Holiday is a proven leader, with a great record of bringing new innovations in the seed treatment sector to market,” said Innes. “The whole Becker Underwood team is pleased that Paul is joining us.”
Prior to joining Becker Underwood, Holliday worked for Bayer CropScience as part of the transition team that successfully integrated the Gustafson seed treatment business into Bayer CropScience. He also oversaw the product and brand management for all seed treatment products used on corn, soybean and sorghum crops. Holliday has also worked for Gustafson and Dekalb Genetics Corporation in various product management, marketing and sales positions.
“Becker Underwood has earned a reputation as a company that listens to the needs and expectations of its customers and then delivers to meet or exceed those needs and expectations with trusted sales, service and quality innovative products. I am proud and fortunate to join such a team,” Holliday said.
The Seed Enhancements Business Unit includes the industry-leading seed colorant and polymer product lines, and the Seedbiotics business. This unit will specialize in developing colorants and polymers that enhance performance and handling, will be headed by Bill Romp who has been with Becker Underwood for eight years. Romp will oversee all global research and development, marketing and sales activities, while working closely with seed companies throughout North America to provide customized seed coating solutions.
“Becker Underwood has realized strong growth in our inoculants and seed enhancement business,” says Innes. “These changes will strengthen our focus and ability to deliver the highest quality and performing inoculants and seed enhancement technologies to our customers worldwide.”
