Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. announced the appointment of Keith McGovern and Stuart Woolf to its Board of Directors, concurrent with the retirement of Richard Rominger. In conjunction, the Company has also formed an Advisory Council to guide and advise the Board of Directors and management’s strategic vision for Marrone Bio Innovations.
Keith McGovern brings over 30 years of experience in the agriculture industry to the Board of Directors, specializing in the management of commercial potato farming and processing operations. McGovern is President of R.D. Offutt Farms, one of the largest farming and food processing firms in the United States. Under his direction, the company sustainably manages a land base of approximately 210,000 acres. McGovern also serves on the Management Committee of Lamb-Weston/RDO Frozen, a joint venture frozen potato product processing plant. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education, and on the Board of Governors of Idahoan Foods, LLC, a major producer of potato flake products. McGovern is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a degree in Aeronautical Science.
“I am thrilled to join a true industry thought leader such as Marrone Bio Innovations as it pushes forward sustainable farming practices globally through the promotion of its biological pest control products,” said McGovern.
Stuart Woolf is President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing, a family-owned producer and processor of agricultural commodities, including tomatoes and almonds. Concurrently, Woolf is the Managing Partner of Harris Woolf California Almonds and Los Gatos Tomato Products. Woolf has served as Chairman of the California League of Food Processors, the Almond Board of California, and of the UC President’s Commission of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Woolf currently serves on the board of Ruiz Food Products and Western Growers Association. Woolf received a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA at Boston College.
“I look forward to joining the Board of Directors of Marrone Bio Innovations as the company works to build a sustainable farming future,” says Woolf. “I’m keenly interested in the unique benefits offered by biological pest control products and look forward to working with management to make them ever-more mainstream. ”
“The appointment of Keith and Stuart to our Board of Directors brings us a wealth of industry expertise and thought leadership as we continue to grow to become a larger, more mature company,” says Dr. Pam Marrone, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Marrone Bio Innovations. “I am also very grateful to Richard for his 12 years of service as a former Chair of the Board, Board member and founding investor. He has been instrumental in building MBI into the innovator that it is today. His mentorship and steadfast support for MBI, sustainable farming and biologicals has been invaluable.”
Marrone Bio Innovations has also formed an Advisory Council to Guide the Board of Director’s strategic vision for Marrone Bio Innovations.
“We have formed an Advisory Council that we expect will help guide management’s and the Board of Directors’ efforts in developing the Company’s strategic vision for development and sales of our products,” says Bob Woods, MBI’s Board Chair. “The founding members of the Advisory Council, Carl Casale and Tom Wiltrout, will help us improve our understanding of the industry; including the risks, threats and opportunities related to the our business. The Advisory Council’s guidance will be instrumental in recruiting key personnel, developing longstanding industry relationships and establishing key strategic partnerships.”
Carl Casale is a veteran executive, investor and farm operator, coming from a family deeply rooted in agriculture. He also serves as an independent board member for both Syngenta AG, a leading global agricultural firm, and Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. Mr. Casale previously served as CEO of CHS Inc., the U.S.’s largest member-cooperative and a Fortune 100 company. Prior to CHS Inc., Casale spent 26 years as a senior executive with Monsanto.
Tom Wiltrout serves as a management consultant for several agricultural firms through his company, Third Thirty LLC, which he founded after retiring from a 34-year career at Dow AgroSciences. In his current capacity, Wiltrout works with senior leadership to develop and refine business strategy and investment priorities. Prior to his time at Dow AgroSciences, Wiltrout worked as a sales representative for Elanco Products Company, where he was later named Marketing Manager at the time of the Dow Elanco joint venture. He later was instrumental in the founding of Dow AgroSciences’ Global Seeds Business Unit.
