The Mosaic Co. reports that Gord McKenzie, director, regional sales, North America, will join Mosaic’s international sales team as director, international sales, during September. In his new role he will be responsible for international sales regions while providing strategic leadership and direction for Mosaic and PhosChem sales.
Agrium announced on Sept. 7 that Kevin Kellerman has accepted the position of National Account Manager, Western Sales, in the company’s Wholesale North American Sales group. In his new role, Kellerman is responsible for the management of the Wilbur Ellis and Simplot accounts. He has been with Agrium for 27 years and has held progressively more senior sales roles, most recently as Sales Manager for the Western Sales Region in Wholesale North American Sales.
Agrium also announced that Todd Latimer will become Sales Manager, Western Sales Region, in the Wholesale North American Sales group, effective Sept. 14. Latimer has been with Agrium for 13 years, most recently as product supervisor for Canadian Nitrogen in the Wholesale Nitrogen Marketing group. In his new role he will be relocating to Agrium’s Denver, Colo., office, and will have responsibility for the management of the Western Sales Region. Both Kellerman and Latimer will report directly to Todd Denzin, Director, Western Sales.
Bruce Vernon has accepted the position of Vice President, Fertilizer, with Viterra’s AgriProducts Group. Vernon will be responsible for the company’s global fertilizer portfolio, and will develop the overall fertilizer strategy with a focus on market expansion. He will assume his new role on Sept. 15, and will be based in the company’s Regina, Saskatchewan, corporate office.
Vernon was most recently vice president of sales and marketing for Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC), based in Moundridge, Kan., where he supervised all product acquisition, risk management, and sales functions for the organization. Prior to joining MKC in March 2007, Vernon was director of crop nutrient marketing and risk management services for Agriliance LLC in their Inver Grove Heights, Minn., office. Vernon has an associate degree in Agribusiness from Southeast Community College Nebraska, and has completed the Leadership Institute at the University of Kansas School of Business.
“The skills Bruce brings from previous management positions will assist him in directing and leading the global strategic business plans for fertilizer, as well as initiating plans to maximize fertilizer sales and margins throughout the Viterra retail network,” said Doug Wonnacott, Senior Vice President of Viterra’s Agri-Products Group. Wonnacott and Vernon also worked together at Agriliance, where the former was vice president, Crop Nutrients.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has succeeded Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Harkin will replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy as chairman of the Senate Health Committee. The changes were announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sept. 9. Lincoln is in her second term and has been a member of the Senate Ag Committee since 1999, where she played a strong leadership role during the debate on the 2008 farm bill, according to the National Corn Growers Association. NCGA said she has been an advocate of investments in renewable energy, conservation, and farm programs that benefit production agriculture and rural America. The American Farm Bureau Federation also praised Lincoln, calling her “a great champion” for agriculture and “a good fighter for her beliefs.” Lincoln will be the first woman to head the Agriculture Committee. She was elected to the House in 1992 and the Senate in 1998.