FMC Corporation appoints Business Sustainability Head in Asia Pacific, Kristina Hermanson assumes ASEAN Business Lead

FMC Corporation, a global agricultural sciences company, has named Shahid Saleem, ASEAN Business Lead, as Director of Business Sustainability and Strategic Initiatives in Asia Pacific (APAC).

According to FMC Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Karen Totland, Saleem will drive business success in the APAC region by incorporating the voice of the customer into FMC's overall sustainability agenda.

"APAC is an extremely diverse and complex region and Shahid's experience and deep understanding of the business places him in a unique position to ensure there is a strong commercial element in our sustainability priorities. Shahid will be integral in providing a strategic and pragmatic approach to our stewardship, government affairs and philanthropic initiatives," said Totland.

Saleem joined FMC in Pakistan in 1993 and has since held many  leadership roles in Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta where he lead the ASEAN business since 2015. Saleem successfully led FMC's local integration with Cheminova in 2015 and the DuPont Crop Protection business in 2018, and established FMC's presence in Vietnam and Malaysia through talent acquisition, product portfolio expansion and distribution network formation, laying a strong foundation for sustainable business growth. He will continue to be based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and report to Totland and Pramod Thota, interim president for the APAC region and president of FMC U.S.A.

Kristina Hermanson, managing director of FMC Australasia, will assume leadership of the company’s ASEAN business, in addition to her current responsibilities in Australia and New Zealand. She will oversee commercial strategy for Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, which together constitute FMC's footprint in ASEAN.

Thota said: "Kristina has a proven track record in business development and transformation. She has advanced the Australasia business significantly over the last three years, leading the team with an authentic and inclusive style. I am confident that Kristina is the right person to build on Shahid's legacy and continue to develop our teams there to meet the needs of growers in the ASEAN region.”

Hermanson joined FMC in 2018 from Coca Cola Amatil where she was director of Growth & Collaboration, leading strategy, customer insights and innovation for two years. Before that, she spent nine years at ADM International Sarl in various business development roles, including director, Business Development & Strategy of its Southeast Asia business. Hermanson serves on the Board of Directors in CropLife Australia, Agsafe Australia and Business for Development Australia. She will continue to be based in Sydney, Australia