Syngenta Lawn & Garden announces new head of flowers business

Syngenta announced today that Keelan Pulliam, head, Syngenta Flowers, Home & Garden North America, (formerly the Flowers Professional business), has elected to retire at the end of 2012 after 33 years with the company. Scott Valentine, a 15-year Syngenta veteran was named the new head of the Flowers, Home & Garden North America based in Gilroy, Calif.

A leading presence at Syngenta since 1979, Pulliam first joined Syngenta legacy company ICI Americas as a territory sales representative. His rapid ascent into leadership roles included such key positions as head of Turf & Landscape in North America and president of Conrad Fafard, Inc., another Syngenta legacy company.

For the past two years, Pulliam served as head of the Syngenta Flowers, Home & Garden North America business overseeing the company's genetics breeding and distribution divisions.

"In this role, Keelan was critical in integrating multiple businesses into one integrated operating unit, furthering Syngenta's leadership in the floriculture industry with cutting-edge industry genetics and integrated solutions," stated Tim Kroenke, head, Syngenta Lawn & Garden North America. "As a leader, his contributions to Syngenta and the Lawn & Garden North America business are numerous and he will be greatly missed."

Valentine will serve as the new head of Syngenta Flowers, Home & Garden North America effective immediately. Valentine has been with Syngenta for nearly 15 years. Most recently, he served as the head of Marketing Services for Lawn & Garden North America, where he played a key role in leading several important go-to-market changes.

Prior to this role, Valentine served as a marketing and program manager for Syngenta Turf & Landscape North America. Valentine's early career in Syngenta included working as a biotechnology project manager for Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc. Valentine holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a masters degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.