Verdesian Life Sciences recently expanded its team to include Jake Underwood as executive vice president of nutritionals, John “Sam” Wilson, Ph.D. as vice president of technology development, Charles Broughton as vice president of sales for Verdesian’s seed treatments and inoculants division in the United States and Canada.
Underwood’s talents excel in company development and industry thought leadership, with more than 16 years of experience in delivering results in sales, marketing and management. In his new role, Underwood will provide strategic direction for the Verdesian nutritionals and micronutrients business. He will lead the nutritional management and sales team and report directly to chief operating officer Greg Thompson.Underwood began his experience in agriculture with five years at J.R. Simplot Company. He then spent the greater part of his career working with Agrium, United Agri Products and Loveland Products, Inc. Prior to joining the Verdesian team, he was Crop Production Services’ general manager of ag retail for Indiana. Underwood is an alumnus of Oregon State University, where he achieved a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business.
Wilson brings more than 30 years of experience to lead the development of new technologies in all product categories. Prior to this position, he served as the global field development manager for FMC, where he managed new product development and led research for more than 250 trials around the world. Wilson also held product development and technical service positions with United Agri Products, Zeneca AG Products and Monsanto. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in bringing 52 new products to market and will work directly in collaboration with J.J. Grow to expand the Verdesian product portfolio. Wilson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees of science from North Carolina State University and received his doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Broughton, a current resident of south central Iowa, brings nearly 30 years of experience to lead the seed treatment and inoculant sales team as the company continues to expand across North America.Prior to this position, Broughton served as the global commercial director for the DuPont Pioneer seed treatment division, where he launched seed treatments in the Americas and implemented marketing strategies on a global level. Additionally, Broughton has worked for Novozymes Bioag Group, where he led sales and marketing teams, as well as EMD Crop Bioscience, Strategic Diagnostics Inc., Meteorlogix, Pharmacia Corporation and Novartis Crop Protection. Broughton is an alumnus of Iowa State University’s agricultural business program.
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