Roger Underwood and Jeff
Becker, co-founders of
Becker Underwood,
an Ames, Iowa based specialty chemical producer of seed,
agriculture, turf, horticulture and landscape products,
announce they are stepping back from their management
responsibilities at the company, effective January 1, 2006.
The two founders promoted current President, Dr. Peter
Innes, to Chief Executive Officer prior to their
announcement. Both men will continue their involvement as
members on the Board of Directors and Underwood will remain
Chairman of the Board.
The two founders have
planned for this transition following their sale of stock to
Norwest Equity Partners in August of 2004. This management
transition allows Underwood and Becker to pursue long-held
business, philanthropic and community interests.
“We deeply love Becker
Underwood and know it is on solid footing,” said Underwood.
“While Jeff and I step back, we are confident the
world-class team of people put in place will ensure the
continued long term execution of the company mission,” he
concluded. “Dr. Peter Innes will be a strong CEO whose
proven leadership will continue to take the company
forward,” stated Becker.
Underwood and Becker are
stepping back 23 years after founding Becker Underwood in a
640 square foot building in Ames. The company grew from
$43,000 in first year sales to over $100 million in 2005.
Today Becker Underwood has 102 employees in Ames, Iowa and
340 globally.
Dr. Innes was formerly
Group Managing Director of the MicroBio Group Limited – a
UK-based company that was Becker Underwood’s first
international acquisition in 2000. Dr. Innes was appointed
as President of Becker Underwood in 2001, and relocated to
the company’s global headquarters in Ames, Iowa in early
2002. Dr. Innes holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from
Imperial College in London.
Becker Underwood is
headquartered in Ames, Iowa with manufacturing plants in
Ames, Iowa; St. Joseph, Missouri; Caldwell, Idaho;
Saskatoon, Canada; Littlehampton, England, Curitiba, Brazil
and Somersby, Australia. Sales and research centers are
located in Toulouse, France; Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Santiago, Chile and Nelson, New Zealand.
The management changes
are effective January 1, 2006.
