Kincannon & Reed - Global Executive Search - News & Resources

Kincannon & Reed is the only retained executive search firm focused exclusively on the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors. Founded in 1981, the firm serves clients throughout the world from its offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

KR Expands Canadian Capabilities

Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Janet Wightman, our newest principal, will focus on growing the firm's Canadian business. Ms. Wightman was a senior executive in the financial services industry with a focus on the agribusiness sector prior to joining Kincannon & Reed. Most recently, she was President and CEO of Victoria Park Capital Inc., a venture capital and private equity fund manager, managing an asset portfolio valued at $700 million with a majority of exposure to the agricultural sector. Read More

Feeding the World is Back

By Greg Duerksen, Managing Partner

As I write this, I am in Nairobi, Kenya listening to farmers and politicians clamor for change. Feeding the world is back.

Just five years ago, food production wasn’t a major part of the public discourse. But today a surprising number of policy makers and influencers know that we need to double global food production by 2050 and are open to policy and investment priority changes. The reappearance of price spikes in agricultural commodities and food, such as occurred in 2008, is scaring governments accustomed to cheap food. Consequently, we see more discussion on the subjects below:

The debate on technology use is changing. Depending on whether you are a glass half full or glass half empty kind of person, the European parliament is either softening or abdicating in its views on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Some historically Luddite activist groups are recognizing that advances like Bt corn and Roundup Ready® have led to dramatic reductions in pesticide use, water use, and soil erosion, and that technology is necessary to feed the world. We hear from developing world agriculturalists that there is a growing desire for access to modern technology. Often, it is remarked that "We have tried organic farming for the past 10,000 years and look where it's gotten us. Let us try something new." For some wealthy consumers, "fresh and local" has become more important than organic or GMO-free.

Vast investments in transportation infrastructure are needed. Ports, railways, and roads must be upgraded, expanded, or built in places like Latin America and Africa if we are going to feed the world. For example, it's cheaper to transport rice from the farm in Vietnam to the coastal population centers of West Africa than it is to transport rice from the farming centers of their own countries just a couple of hundred kilometers inland.

The food chain's risk management tool box is not big enough, robust enough, or used enough. This is true everywhere in the system from the farm level to the government trade, economic, and agricultural policy levels. Inexplicably, many farmers have not used the pricing and insurance tools available to them and, in effect, seek risk. And now, agricultural producers may lose some futures market and contractual tools because of government reaction to the global financial crisis or because certain interest groups oppose integrated meat and poultry production systems. Many manufacturers say they are hedging when actually they are speculating. After decades of trade barrier reductions and opening of markets, some governments are imposing export bans when local prices rise or erect new non-tariff barriers to protect local farmers or manufacturers. The result of these and a long list of other acts of omission and commission lead to increased risk and volatility.

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Kincannon & Reed - Find Executive Talent

"You consistently challenge us and broaden our thinking and horizons. You are able to show that sometimes what we think we want is very different than what we need."

- Human resources director for a major crop input company

"We ended up with the ideal candidate combination, and one we would not have envisioned ourselves. Your firm's knowledge of the sector was invaluable as it led to opportunities beyond the search."

- Managing director of a private equity firm

"In addition to finding us great candidates, you worked adeptly and sensitively with all our internal stakeholders. Widespread ownership in the selection process will help our team extend to new hires the support they need for success."
- CEO, privately owned artisan bread company

"We have worked with all the big global firms, and Kincannon & Reed has been easily the most thorough and professional."
- Head of human resources of large multinational company

"We appreciate that you are always reachable and that you never give up even when we all know the search is extremely difficult."
- Chairman of major distribution company

"Thank you for your excellent assistance in this process. The tight search timeline was respected and I believe that the candidate will bring much value to our company."
- CEO for crop input company

"When this search started you indicated one of your goals was to provide a slate that would be so good that we would have difficulty choosing just one candidate. You far exceeded that goal."
- Business unit president for global animal health company

"One of our Senior VPs commented early on that hiring a retained firm was not our best investment of time and money. On our last conference call, however, he indicated he's become a true believer in Kincannon & Reed, and wanted to go on the record as retracting his earlier comment."
- VP of HR for multi-billion dollar, family-owned grain company

"Kincannon & Reed is universally respected and relied upon for quality partnership and mentoring when it comes to senior-level executive searches."
- Former CEO of major agribusiness organization

"Kincannon & Reed has good instincts for people and works hard to know the organization they're serving. "They do a magnificent job matching qualified candidates to the organization."
- Director of Biotech Business Development, multinational agricultural biotechnology organization

"Even when we're not using them, the Kincannon & Reed team keeps in touch because they seem genuinely interested in what we're doing. So when people ask me who we should turn to, I invariably point them to Kincannon & Reed."
- CEO of animal genetics and technology firm