BASF Crop Protection has a new Director, U.S. Crop Business. Paul Rea steps into that role effective July 1.
Rea brings more than 14 years of global management experience in the agriculture business to the position. He most recently served as Director of BASF Specialty Products business within BASF North America Crop Protection, comprising three units: Professional Pest Control, Professional Turf & Ornamentals and Professional Vegetation Management. In this role, Rea led the December 2008 acquisition of Whitmire Micro-Gen to form BASF Pest Control Solutions. Prior, Rea held global and regional marketing positions for BASF North America.
In his new position, Rea will be responsible for all aspects of the U.S. Crop commercial business. He will head an experienced team focused on growing BASF’s leadership position in innovation — delivering game-changing products such as Headline® fungicide and launching new chemistries like Kixor® herbicide — to help growers get the most out of every acre. Additionally, he will spearhead initiatives to deepen BASF’s customer relationships.
Rea joined the company in 2001 as a National Sales Manager at BASF Australia, Ltd., in Sydney. Prior to joining BASF, Rea served as National Product Manager and Director of Graintrust Venture for Combined Rural Traders (CRT) in Sydney, Australia. He also spent more than 10 years working with a major seed company in both Australia and New Zealand.
Rea succeeds McDougall, who was promoted to his current role as Group Vice President of BASF, North America Crop Protection in February.