Petta Named Head of Valent U.S.A.

Valent U.S.A. Corporation is pleased to announce that Jim Petta has been promoted to manager of its biorational business unit. This business unit is responsible for the company’s growing portfolio of biological crop protection and crop enhancement products for agriculture in North America.

Petta previously led the Valent U.S.A. aquatics business as part of the Valent Professional Products unit. He has successfully launched a number of unique aquatics products in the highly technical segment.

Andy Lee, Valent executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Petta’s combined leadership ability, customer focus and technical skills are very well suited to the biorationals business. Biorationals are products typically derived from biological origins that are highly specific in their activity while providing economic, health and/or environmental benefits.

"Jim’s skills and expertise will be critical to grow the biorationals business and maintain our market leadership as this sector expands,” Lee said. “We see great potential both for biological products and for the combined use of biorationals with conventional chemicals, depending on market needs. This requires a strong scientific base as well as a good understanding of changing market drivers to deliver maximum value to our customers.”

Lee added that Petta is well qualified for the role technically, with a Bachelor of Science in entomology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in agriculture from California State University, Chico.

Petta said he has long viewed Valent as a pioneer in biorational technology and appreciates the work the company has done in advancing the overall segment. Valent created a dedicated biorational business unit in 2009 to further extend its market leadership.

"Valent BioSciences Corporation (VBC), our parent company’s global biorational affiliate, has been the market leader in this important and growing segment since its inception,” Petta said. “Its demonstrated success in research and commercial development of biorationals on a global scale aligns well with the marketing, sales and technical development capabilities of Valent U.S.A. in the U.S. and Canada.”

"With a product portfolio built on strong science and strategic acquisitions, such as VBC’s recent purchase of Pace International, Valent is well positioned to continue the tremendous growth of its biorational business,” Petta said. “It is a real opportunity to join a team that has been so successful in building a broad base of customers that recognize the extended value of biorationals.”

With more than 20 years of experience in the aquatics, crop, turf and ornamental businesses, Petta came to Valent after working with a number of leading industry companies. Prior to joining Valent, Petta held a number of positions within Syngenta/Zeneca, including U.S. business manager responsible for vegetation management, turf and ornamentals, and aquatics. Petta also worked for Syngenta/Zeneca in Chile and Indonesia in senior technical and marketing management positions.

Petta will be based in the company’s Walnut Creek, Calif., headquarters.