AgraQuest, Inc. is pleased to announce the hiring of Jonathan Margolis, Ph.D. as its new Senior Vice President of Research and Development. Dr. Margolis brings over 19 years of management, business development and research experience from the innovative, results-driven biotech arena.

 “It’s an exciting time to oversee the company’s scientific direction,” said Dr Margolis. “AgraQuest’s technology pipeline holds a vast amount of product and intellectual property potential.”

 “AgraQuest is thrilled to recruit a biotech executive of Jonathan’s caliber. His scientific leadership and business development skills will play a key role in AgraQuest’s growth and accomplishments,” said Mike Miille, CEO and COO of AgraQuest.

Prior to joining AgraQuest, Jonathan Margolis was Senior Director of Chemical Genetics at Exelixes, Inc where he led a $100 million joint venture between Exelixis and Bayer CropScience, forged research alliances with Dow AgroSciences, and managed a large R & D department through periods of restructuring and rapid corporate growth.  Jonathan is an internationally recognized expert on model systems in drug discovery, and an invited author and speaker at industry and public sector symposia.

Dr. Margolis received a PhD in Biology from the University of California, San Diego and a BS in Biology from Swarthmore College.

Denise Manker, PhD who successfully led Research and Development efforts at AgraQuest over the past 10 years and the commercialization of its first 2 products, Serenade® and Sonata® will now be directing Global Product Development activities at the company as Vice President of Global Product Development. “The depth and breadth of her experience at AgraQuest make Denise the ideal person to oversee this critical function,” stated Mike Miille.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing effective, safe and environmentally friendly natural pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets The company sells Serenade®, Rhapsody® and Sonata® Biofungicides and recently received registration of a biofumigant based on the fungus, Muscodor albus. A bioinsecticide is pending at the EPA. AgraQuest received the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the EPA for the discovery and commercialization of Serenade Biofungicide. In 2004, AgraQuest received a Red Herring Top 100 Private Company Award and the World Technology Award for the Environment.