Following a year of exciting transformations for Syngenta Seeds, NK^® Brand Seeds announces the completion of organizational changes including the addition of key personnel. 

Leading the organization as the Head of NK Brand Seeds is Tom Klevorn. Since joining Syngenta Seeds in 2002, Klevorn served as Head of Plant Sciences for Corn and Soybean Traits and Foundation Seeds. Prior to that, he was the business and operations director for Pharmacia’s Latin American operations.

“Supported by the world class product development and research capabilities of Syngenta Seeds, NK Brand Seeds continues to focus on and is fully committed to meeting customer needs,” Klevorn explains. “NK Brand has been a trusted source of innovative and high quality seed products for growers for more than 100 years.  We are confident our leadership team is carrying on NK Brand’s reputation for outstanding service, knowledge and support.”

Marketing Head Doug Knight takes over the responsibility of directing the NK Brand marketing team in providing leading products, valuable programs and information to customers. Knight has been with Syngenta Seeds and legacy companies for 23 years with extensive experience in sales, marketing and agronomy.

Corn Product Manager Jeff Jorgensen and Soybean Product Manager Kurt Sieren provide growers and dealers with product offerings focused on delivering more yield and more choices.   Jorgensen’s 20-plus years of experience with Syngenta Seeds includes product management and agronomic service.   Sieren has more than 12 years of experience with the company, most recently as Regional Sales Manager in northern Iowa.

Eric Brown, as NK Brand Marketing Programs Manager, ensures effective marketing programs are provided. Brown’s 15-year background includes sales experience in Ohio and Illinois, work as an NK Brand Area Marketing Manager in the Northern Corn Belt, plus experience in developing the company’s Web-based business-to-business system, AccessNK, prior to assuming his new role in February.

Marketing Services Manager Cathy Soanes comes to Golden Valley after 15 years with NK Brand Seeds in Canada, where she recently served as Technical Information and Marketing Manager.  Soanes directs the Marketing Services Team in communicating the value of NK Brand programs, products and service to growers. The Manager of Advertising and Public Relations, Bev Larson, makes sure the latest news from NK Brand Seeds is shared with customers.  Larson has more than 25 years experience in media relations, advertising and marketing with Syngenta Seeds.

A Technical Services team of eight regionally-located managers is led by Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Navratil. As Head, Technical Services, he makes certain that NK Brand professionals receive quality information and training in order to serve as trusted resources for growers and dealers. Navratil has been an integral part of Syngenta Seeds for more than 20 years. 

Operations Group Head David Borgmeier conducts a team responsible for inventory management, as well as customer care,  information systems support and strategic alignment for NK Brand. Borgmeier has a strong history of supply management and product management with Dow AgroSciences/Mycogen Seeds before joining NK Brand in 2004.

NK Brand Area Sales Heads Jeff Taber and Kevin Kimm pull their sales and management skills from years of experience in the field.  Taber, who now heads up the East, South and West sales areas, joined Syngenta Seeds in 1990 as a Finance Manager. He also has served in various sales and strategy planning roles. Leading the North and Central areas, Kimm, who started with the company in 1992, has been a key player in several sales management positions.  Together they are focused on offering growers more yield and better choices, and maintaining high standards of accuracy and service as NK Brand grows with the agricultural industry.

“This NK Brand leadership team is a group of highly qualified individuals who believe in the traditions of NK Brand, as well as its investment in innovative solutions for growers now and in the future, and they are backed by the full resources of Syngenta Seeds,” Klevorn says. “They share a goal of supporting and serving our customers for the way they farm.”

NK Brand Seeds is a trusted hybrid corn, soybean and alfalfa seed supplier, providing innovative products and solutions to the marketplace for over 100 years.  Located in Golden Valley, Minn., NK Brand Seeds is a business division of Syngenta.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

NK^® and For The Way You Farm^® are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.