Marrone Bio Innovations Expands Senior Staff

Marrone Bio Innovations(MBI) recently announced the newest additions to its senior staff. "This is an exciting group of professionals who are joining us. Their experience and knowledge will be invaluable as we seek to expand our bio-based product offerings and increase the adoption of our technologies around the globe," says Hector Absi, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Operations.

Carlos Reyes, Ph.D., has been promoted to Vice President, Product Development. He has held positions as Director, Global Field Development with Suterra and as Director, Viticulture Research with Bronco Wine Company. Dr. Reyes holds a Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences from Oregon State University and a M.S. in Plant Pathology and Weed Science from Colorado St. University.

Jim Lappin joins MBI as Vice President, Product Management and Business Development. He was previously with FMC as the Global Strategic Marketing Manager Herbicides. Jim brings more than 30 years crop protection industry experience in sales, product and portfolio management, marketing, and business development from previous positions with FMC, BASF, American Cyanamid and Monsanto.

Kristie Jones, appointed Vice President of Marketing, brings to MBI more than 20 years of marketing experience and has been providing consulting services to the company since 2011. Prior to running her consulting practice, Kristie was Vice President of Marketing for Purfresh, Inc., a global provider of pre- and post-harvest protection solutions. Ms. Jones holds a B.S. in business administration from California State University, Fresno.

Yuko Soneoka, Ph.D, J.D., has been hired as Chief Patent Counsel. She previously was Senior Corporate Counsel and Director of Intellectual Property at Genomic Health, Inc. and spent almost a decade at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett and Dunner, LLP. Dr. Soneoka earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Oxford University and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.