DuPont Pioneer names Neal Gutterson to lead agricultural biotechnology

DuPont Pioneer announced that Neal Gutterson, Ph.D., will join the business as vice president of Agricultural Biotechnology (ABT), effective July 21, 2014. Gutterson joins Pioneer from Mendel Biotechnology where he served most recently as president, chief executive officer and board member.

 "Neal brings extensive biotechnology and business leadership in the seed and crop protection industry to this integral role for DuPont Pioneer," said Paul E. Schickler, president of DuPont Pioneer. "I am looking forward to working with Neal as he assumes the lead role of all ABT functions, the delivery of the Pioneer transgenic pipeline, and the successful execution of the overall Pioneer research strategy. We are very pleased to have him as part of our team."

With more than 30 years of experience in plant biotechnology and a named inventor on more than three dozen patents and pending patent applications, Gutterson began his career in 1983 with the biotechnology company AGS to develop genetically improved microbial biocontrol agents. After a merger between AGS and DNA Plant Technology, Gutterson focused on improving produce crops for quality traits, and provided technical leadership on intellectual property strategy before being named vice president, research and development (R&D). Joining Mendel in 2002, he served as vice president for R&D and was named president and COO in 2005. He has been the CEO at Mendel since 2007.

Gutterson holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor of science in chemistry from Yale University. He currently serves on the board of trustees for CIMMYT, an international organization – headquartered in Mexico – dedicated to sustainably increasing the productivity of maize and wheat systems to ensure global food security and reduce poverty. He also has served eight years on the Food and Agriculture Section Governing Board of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, including as vice-chair of the Governing Board, as a member of the GrassRoots Biotechnology Board of Directors, and on the board of the Council on Sustainable Biomass Production.