Valent BioSciences names new VP/global marketing and business management

Valent BioSciences Corporation (VBC) announced that Salman Mir has joined the company as vice president, global marketing and business management. In his new role, Mir will assume leadership of the company's global marketing and business management activities in the areas of agriculture, public health and forestry.

VBC is the leader in developing and commercializing biorational products in 95 countries around the world. Biorationals are products typically derived from biological origins that are highly specific in their activity while providing economic, health, and/or environmental benefits. These products include microbial insecticides, fungicides and nematicides, as well as plant growth regulators used in production agriculture and managing stress in crops.

Mir will report directly to Mike Donaldson, Valent BioSciences president and chief executive officer. According to Donaldson, "Salman's addition to the team comes at a crucial time as we implement our future growth strategies. His extensive marketing, business management and global experience will have an immediate impact as we continue to expand our broad biorational product portfolio to better meet the needs of our customers around the world."

Prior to this role at VBC, Mir held a number of key positions with major global crop protection companies. Mir started his career in South Asia, and then moved to South East Asia before re-locating to the U.S. He served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his career, including sales, marketing, operations and business development

"I am excited about the opportunities for VBC as well as the other Sumitomo Chemical affiliate companies around the world," Mir said. "With VBC's position as the worldwide leader in the development and commercialization of biorational products, it has a particularly strong value proposition to share in the marketplace. The results are visible not only in its pipeline, but also through its new manufacturing facility being constructed in Osage, Iowa. Both initiatives speak clearly to VBC's support of current and future products as well as its commitment to their customers."

"VBC is committed to further extend that portfolio with unique, third-party technologies that fit with VBC's strategy and capabilities," said Donaldson. "Mir will serve as an active partner with our Business Development team, which will be critical to helping us succeed in bringing even more new products to our customers."

VBC's sister company, Valent U.S.A., located in Walnut Creek, CA, serves as the marketing and sales partner for the VBC biorational products in the U.S.