I got this info off Yahoo about the hiring of the V.P.
Tuesday December 10 8:20 AM EDT
AgriBioTech Inc. employs Byron D. Ford as vice president,
corporate development and strategic planning
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 1996--Dr. Johnny R. Thomas, CEO of Agribiotech
Inc , Tuesday announced that the company has employed Byron D. Ford as vice president,
corporate development & strategic planning, effective Jan. 15, 1997.
Byron formerly had a variety of responsibilities with DeKalb Genetics Corp , including the following:
-- Vice president, marketing and operations: Profit and loss responsibilities for the North American
seed business, where he directed sales, marketing, agronomic services, production and distribution.
-- Chairman and president of DeKalb Canada Inc.
-- Directed the development of long-term marketing and business strategies to capitalize on
emerging DeKalb biotechnology.
-- Vice president, strategic marketing.
Prior to employment with DeKalb, Byron was a senior operating executive and marketing vice
president of Ecolab Inc., with profit and loss responsibility for a $150 million consumer
packaged-goods division. In the 1970s, Byron was category manager -- Household Products
Division of Lever Bros., where he managed day-to-day marketing for a $500 million liquid
laundry-product group.
Most recently, Byron has been a principle of Walsh & Associates Ltd., a registered investment
advisory corporation, and a director of ABT since June 1996.
The primary challenge facing the company is the effective integration, achieved through its
acquisitions, into a unified seed company, while meeting all short-term and long-term goals for
continued acquisitions, biotechnology access and profitability.
According to Thomas, Byron's expertise and experiences ideally prepare him to take a key
leadership role in AgriBioTech's corporate development and strategic planning. Byron's expertise
will complement the expertise of the existing management staff exceptionally well. As part of the
employment terms, Byron will be replaced on the board of directors by a new outside director, to
be announced.
ABT is a fully integrated full-service seed company specializing in the forage and turf seed sector,
complete with research and development of proprietary seed varieties, seed processing plants and a
national distribution and sales network. The company has completed 11 acquisitions since Jan. 1,
1995, and is now the fourth-largest forage seed company in the United States.
CONTACT: AgriBioTech Inc., Las Vegas
John C. Francis, 702/798-1969
or
Liviakis Financial Communications
Robert B. Prag, 916/448-6084
Will write when there is more news. John |
