Jan Doege has been named president of K+S North America and director of the K+S KALI division, and will assume that position effective April 1, 2008. Mr. Doege is currently working at K+S KALI GmbH, (Kassel, Germany) and is responsible for the North American market in the Overseas Fertilizer Sales department. Mr. Doege will replace Mark Roberts, who will transfer to the Salt Division of the K+S Group and assume the role of CEO for International Salt Co. (Clarks Summit, Penn.) upon the retirement of Robert Jones in October.
ICEC announced that Marta Vilanova has joined the company’s International Marketing group as marketing director-international. Vilanova brings more than 18 years experience in the energy and raw materials field. She will be located in Caracas, Venezuela, and concentrate on ICEC’s Western Hemisphere activities. She can be reached by telephone at +58-424-1797913, and by email at mvilanova@icecglobal.com.
Wayne Donaldson on Feb. 11 will assume duties as account manager for Agrico Canada Ltd./Limitee in Western Canada. Donaldson has 17 years of sales and marketing experience. He will be based in Saskatoon and will be responsible for growing the company’s market in Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as supporting established customers. He will report to Rick Rempel, vice president for marketing for Western Canada.
Potash One Inc. has announced the appointment of George Lim, CA, CGA, as chief financial officer. Lim has more than 30 years of accounting and financial management experience. Previously, he was CFO of Energy Metals Corp. For 5 years he has also been CFO of a group of resource companies with operations in North and South America, Australia, and Africa. He began his career at KMPG and has since held roles of increasing responsibility, several of which were senior roles in public practice and in the mining industry.
Land O’Lakes Inc. has announced that Dave Seehusen, 61, will become executive vice president, ag business development and member services, a position that did not exist previously. Seehusen has been employed by the company for approximately 40 years, and has served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company’s seed division for the past 23 years.
Mike Vandelogt, 53, will become executive vice president and chief operating officer of Winfield Solutions, seed division, filling the vacancy created by Seehusen’s move. Vandelogt has been with the company for the past 17 years.
Barry Wolfish, 51, is moving from his current position as vice president, corporate strategy and business development, to become senior vice president, corporate marketing strategy, a position that did not exist previously. He has been with LOL eight years.
Jean-Paul Ruiz-Funes, 50, is joining LOL as senior vice president, corporate strategy and business development, filling the vacancy created by Wolfish’s move. He was most recently general manager with Baxter International.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has announced the recent promotions to senior vice president of Keith Baeder, Fred Bosch, Randy Coleman, and Andy Coogle.
Keith Baeder, senior vice president and general manager, North America Gardens, oversees the Gardens business in North America, which includes plant food and growing media, primarily under the Miracle-Gro brand. He is also responsible for the Scotts wild bird food business. He most recently served as vice president, Gardens Marketing, since 2004.
Fred Bosch, senior vice president, Global Professional, is responsible for the marketing of specialty fertilizers and plant protection products for the commercial horticultural industry, including greenhouses and nurseries, landscape professionals, European turf professionals, and high-value specialty agriculture. Bosch joined Scotts Miracle-Gro in August 2000 as vice president of sales for the International Professional business.
Randy Coleman, senior vice president, North America Finance, manages all financial aspects of the North America business, including responsibility for the company’s North America Consumer brands, Scotts LawnService, and Smith & Hawken. Coleman has been with Scotts for eight years, holding a variety of positions in the finance.
Andy Coogle, senior vice president, assistant general counsel, leads the company’s global legal support activities. Coogle joined ScottsMiracle-Gro in May 2000.
Industry veteran Gary W. Didinger, 74, of Didinger & Son Inc., Danville, Ohio, passed away on Jan. 14. Didinger was a successful businessman for more than 60 years, founding the family fertilizer business with his father while still in high school. Over the years, he and his sons expanded Didinger & Son into a major agriculture crop service facility in southern Ohio. He was also a longtime member of the Ohio Agribusiness Association, and a great friend to many within the industry, including Green Markets. Didinger never retired, spending time at the business even as he battled cancer in the final year of his life. He is survived by his wife, Carol; four children, and five grandchildren. A funeral Mass was held on Jan. 17 at St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville. Memorial contributions can be made to the Pallative Care Unit at Knox Community Hospital, 1330 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.