Surinder Jakhar, chairman of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO), was found dead as a result of gunshot injuries at his farm on Jan. 18. Local media report that Jakhar was cleaning his revolver when it fired accidentally. Police, however, were not ready to call the death an accident, telling the media that they have to consider the possibility of suicide. According to reports, no one else was at the farm at the time of Jakhar’s death.
IFFCO spokesperson Harshendra Singh Verdhan told Green Markets that the company issued a note of condolence to the family, but has not issued a statement about Jakhar’s death. Jakhar was with IFFCO for approximately 30 years and held leadership positions in many of the individual member organizations of the cooperative.
Shareholders of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. on Jan. 20 elected four members of the company’s board of directors, effective immediately, for three-year terms that expire in 2014. They include Jim Hagedorn, Scotts chairman and CEO; William “Jerry” Jurgensen, former CEO of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.; Nancy Mistretta, former partner at Russell Reynolds Associates; and Stephanie Shern, founder, Shern Associates LLC.
Hagedorn also announced that CFO Dave Evans would expand his responsibilities. As executive vice president, strategy and business development, in addition to his CFO position, Evans will lead the development of a long-term strategic roadmap for the company that will provide a foundation from which to filter growth opportunities and define the capabilities critical to the company’s success.