Page 30 - AWA VOL.41-NO.7

NeW AppoiNtMeNts

Argenta Appoints Matthew stober as New leader for Corteva
Chief Executive Officer Agriscience uK & ireland
Argenta, the leading end-to-end provider of Ed, who is currently the UK & Ireland Crop
pharmaceutical services to the animal health Protection Commercial Sales Manager, will suc-
industry, announced that Matt Stober has been ceed William Corrigan. After a successful tenure
named the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) leading the business, Will has been appointed
of Argenta, effective September 29, 2025. Matt Global Product Manager for the Pasture and
succeeds interim CEO Stephan Kutzer, who will Land Management Herbicide Portfolio, based at
remain closely involved with Argenta as a board the company’s global headquarters in Indianap-
member. olis, USA.
“Argenta has built a strong foundation and is In his new role, Ed will lead Corteva’s strate-
now at an exciting inflection point, with the scale gic direction across the UK and Ireland, contin-
and capabilities to fully deliver on its molecule-to-market vision. I am uing to drive agricultural innovation and deliver
honored to lead the Company and look forward to working with the value to farmers, agronomists and stakeholders. With over two decades
Board and the talented team at Argenta to strengthen our positioning of experience in agronomy and business leadership, Ed brings a pro-
as the partner-of-choice for our clients in enabling innovation in animal found understanding of the industry and a strong commitment to ad-
health,” said Matt Stober, CEO of Argenta. vancing sustainable and profitable farming.
Matt brings extensive experience in leading and scaling global orga- Since joining Corteva in January 2025, Ed has played a pivotal role
nizations in the biopharma, pharmaceutical development, manufactur- in strategic planning and key account management, ensuring farmers
ing, and research industries. Prior to joining Argenta, Matt was the CEO have access to the latest crop protection solutions. He will remain based
of Abzena, a biologics and bioconjugate-focused CDMO and CRO that in Cambridge, UK.
provides outsourced manufacturing and development services for ther- “We are thrilled to appoint Ed to this critical leadership position,”
apeutic companies from research to commercial production. Prior to Ab- said Monica Sorribas, Northern Europe CU Leader, Corteva.
zena, Matt held senior executive leadership roles at Hospira, Novartis,
GlaxoSmithKline, and Circle 40 on enquiry card “His commercial acumen and deep-rooted agricultural expertise
are exactly what we need to continue driving growth and support farm-
ers in the UK and Ireland. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Will
for his outstanding leadership and congratulate him on his important
new global role.”
Ed said: “I am incredibly proud to lead the UK & Ireland business
for Corteva Agriscience. Agriculture is facing immense challenges,
Cobb-Vantress strengthens r&d with from evolving weather patterns to new regulatory demands, but with
these challenges come great opportunities for innovation. Since joining
strategic Addition Corteva, I’ve been impressed by our team's focus on practical solutions
that make a real difference on-farm." Circle 42 on enquiry card
Cobb-Vantress, LLC, a global leader in
poultry genetics, proudly announces the ap-
pointment of Dr. Jessica Starkey to lead Cobb’s
initiatives in muscle biology and meat science. Kristian Botnen new Benchmark
This strategic addition to the Research and De- Genetics’ Chief Executive Officer
velopment leadership team underscores Cobb’s
unwavering commitment to scientific rigor, in- Benchmark Genetics today announces the
novation, and delivering exceptional value to its appointment of Kristian Botnen as Chief Exec-
customers. utive Officer starting November 3rd, 2025. Bot-
nen brings extensive leadership experience
For generations, Cobb has been trusted to
provide healthy, affordable chicken—driven by a relentless pursuit of from the aquaculture indusZtry, coupled with a
genetic progress and product excellence. Dr. Starkey’s expertise will strong background in finance and operational
play a pivotal role in helping advance Cobb’s understanding of poultry management. He will lead Benchmark Genetics
muscle development and meat quality defects, helping to uncover root into its next phase of growth and innovation as
causes and drive solutions that directly support customer performance the company continues to strengthen its position
and product quality. as a global leader in aquaculture genetics.
Botnen joins from AKVA Group, a global
In her new role, Dr. Starkey will lead initiatives in sensory technol-
ogy to enhance yield and product quality and consistency, collaborate leader in aquaculture technology solutions, where he has served as
across global teams, and elevate Cobb’s scientific presence through Chief Operating Officer since 2022. Prior to this, he served as Chief
independent research and international partnerships. Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Lingalaks, a major
Norwegian fish farming company. He started his career building a solid
With over 25 years of experience in agriculture and more than 20 foundation in finance and banking before moving into operational and
years specializing in animal muscle growth biology and meat science, general management roles in aquaculture.
Dr. Starkey brings a wealth of knowledge and industry insight. She most
recently served as Associate Professor in the Department of Poultry Throughout his career, Botnen has consistently delivered operational
Science at Auburn University, where she led groundbreaking research excellence, exceeded financial and sustainability goals, while build-
and instruction programs in growth physiology, meat science, and poul- ing high-performing teams. He holds a Master of Management and a
try production. Circle 41 on enquiry card Bachelor of Business Administration, both from BI Norwegian Business
School in Norway. Circle 43 on enquiry card

28 Vol. 41 No. 7