David Pursell is resigning as vice president for strategic development with Agrium Advanced Technologies, effective March 1, a little over a year and a half after Agrium Inc. acquired the family-owned Pursell Technologies. He will pursue other interests: improving the golf industry. Pursell will be devoting more time as CEO of FarmLinks LLC, a world-class research and demonstration golf course.
Pursell, great-grandson of the founder of what was first known as Parker Fertilizer, and son of Jimmy Pursell, who changed focus from serving local cotton farmers to providing high-tech fertilizers for a world market, has been involved with Pursell Technologies since he was 12. After studying commercial art at Auburn University, he became vice president of sales and marketing; when the company sold its consumer division, he took over as president.
In a statement, Pursell expressed his good feelings about leaving the company in Agrium’s hands. “Agrium is such a fine company, one of the most progressive and well-positioned companies in the world,” Pursell said. “While switching from a family-owned company to a publicly-traded, international one, the transition was much better than I ever thought possible. For this and other reasons, this decision to resign has been a difficult one. I leave behind many great working relationships with former PTI employees as well as newer relationships with folks from Agrium. The senior leadership team here is very talented and solid. And their strategy is right on target.”
The Pursell family still owns FarmLinks. However, Agrium has a marketing agreement with FarmLinks, as a cornerstone partner. The agreement allows Agrium to train and educate up to 400 golf superintendents and nursery operators utilizing the “FarmLinks experience,” according to Agrium.
William Lupien has joined Potash One Inc.’s board of directors. Potash One says Lupien brings over 40 years of public-market financial expertise and U.S. equity-market exposure to the company’s board. He is currently a private investor and a financial equity market consultant. He is on the board of directors of Uranium One, Midway Gold Corp., Aflease Gold Ltd. and Skyler Technology Inc.
Potash One has accepted the resignation of Ken Ralfs as a director. He will pursue other business interests. Ralf has been with the board for the past three and a half years.