Kincannon & Reed Fills CEO Position for Topigs Norsvin
November 19, 2024 – Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Dick Hordijk as the new CEO of Topigs Norsvin. Principals Attila von Hankó and Michael Whitney led the assignment. ‘’We are very pleased with the appointment of Dick,” said Mark Tijssen, chairman of the supervisory board. “He brings not only considerable know-how in agriculture, but he also has extensive international experience and brings valued-added knowledge to our sustainability agenda.’’
Mr. Hordijk is CEO of Royal Agrifirm Group, a Dutch farmer-owned cooperative that develops and sells agricultural, feed, and specialty solutions across the globe. Earlier in his career, he held various management and executive positions at Cargill, mostly on the international business side of the company. He obtained a master’s degree in business econometrics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a post-master’s certificate in financial controlling at VU Amsterdam.
“I am fortunate that after eight beautiful years at Agrifirm, I can continue to work for a farmer-owned organization and contribute to the success of the most innovative pig genetic company,” said Mr. Hordijk. “Topigs Norsvin is well-known to me, and I look forward to working with all of the companies.”
Topigs Norsvin is renowned for its innovative approach in implementing new technologies and its continuous focus on cost-efficient pig production. Its focus on innovative breeding means they achieve higher genetic progress each year. This creates extra added value and new possibilities for partners. Topigs Norsvin’s genetic improvement is based on two major cornerstones: sustainability and efficiency.
Founded in 1981, Kincannon & Reed serves clients throughout the world from locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The firm is based in Arlington, VA. Kincannon & Reed’s mission is: “We recruit leaders for organizations that feed the world and keep it healthy.”
Based in Germany, Mr. von Hankó serves Kincannon & Reed’s Europe and Asia-Pacific clients, focusing on senior management recruitment and succession appointments in the animal health sector. His 30-year career includes global expertise in strategic and operational development for companies focused on research and development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing of veterinary vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and feed additives for livestock, aquaculture, and companion animals. Mr. von Hankó is fluent in German and English, and proficient in Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Recruits President and CEO for CropLife America
As a consultant to Kincannon & Reed since 2012, Mr. Whitney is an executive coach and search professional. He brings more than 25 years industry experience as a senior executive working for well-known global beverage, consumer goods, and agribusiness companies, that include Allied Domecq, RB, and Bunge. His executive experience extends across marketing, sales, operations, finance, and supply chain, and includes M&A, organizational strategy, and business transformation. As a search professional, Mr. Whitney has led multiple C-suite and senior executive engagements for multi-nationals and earlier stage companies across the food and agribusiness value chain.
Past Assignment
Kincannon & Reed recently helped to recruit Ricardo Garcia de Alba as CEO of Meiogenix, Inc., an agriculture biotech company that develops disruptive new products based on its proprietary chromosome editing technology. He will succeed Luc Mathis, who has led the company for the previous four years. Christophe Dumont, Jon Leafstedt, and Stephen Coffey led the assignment.
Kincannon & Reed Fills Senior Operations Role for MPS Egg Farms
Kincannon & Reed has assisted in the recruitment of Edward Chisholm as vice president of operations at MPS Egg Farms in North Manchester, IN. “A future-focused leader, Edward has a demonstrated track record of success in optimizing operational performance,” said Jim Gerardot, Jr., managing director at Kincannon & Reed. “His ability to build high performing teams and healthy cultures through transparency will benefit him greatly as the vice president of operations for MPS Egg Farms.”
“Meiogenix is now a global company, established in the U.S., that serves a broad, global market and customer base,” said Johan Cardoen, former CEO of CropDesign, former managing director of Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie and Meiogenix chairman of the board. “The deep Agribusiness perspective and experience Ricardo brings, having helped Corteva in positioning farmers for growth with advanced tools, technologies, and strategies, will propel Meiogenix to achieve its vision. We welcome Ricardo and look forward to working with him to take Meiogenix through the next stage of its growth.”
Mr. Garcia de Alba comes to Meiogenix after serving 15 years at Corteva Agriscience, where he held multiple leadership positions in the company’s seed and crop protection businesses. Most recently, he led the company’s Global Row Crop Herbicide and Nitrogen Management Portfolio, overseeing weed management responsibilities for the Enlist System and the company’s corn, soybean, cotton, and sugarcane business.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Recruits President and COO for Clarkson Grain Company
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
