Paul Schmidt has joined EMD Crop BioScience as President, succeeding Tom Winkofske, who will retire at the end of the year. To aid in the transition, Winkofske will temporarily serve in a consultant role. Schmidt brings 25 years of experience in the crop bioscience industry and most recently served as Vice President of New Business Ventures for Bayer CropScience, developing new business opportunities in the areas of nutrition, health and biomaterials.

“Our search for a new President was a long and rigorous one, and it brought us to the best possible outcome,” said Winkofske. “Our criteria demanded the skills necessary to lead our business and to reach the high goals we have set. Paul matches our target profile without compromise. He has the far-reaching expertise in global strategy for plant biotechnology products, a successful record in business alliance management and multifaceted background in sales, marketing and product management.”

Born and raised on a grain and hog farm in Saskatchewan, Schmidt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Prior to Bayer CropScience, Schmidt had held positions with Aventis CropScience, Hoechst Schering AgrEvo and Hoechst.

“As a company founded almost 120 years ago, EMD Crop BioScience has a long and remarkable history of providing high value plant enhancers for yield enhancement,” says Schmidt. “My job is to see that continue. With the growing global demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel, the need for innovative technologies and solutions to enhance plant production has never been greater.”

Schmidt and his family are presently planning their relocation from North Carolina to the Milwaukee area.