Jim Blome was named executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO) of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. In his new role, Blome will oversee all day-to-day operations of the company's growing agricultural, professional and consumer products business units in the United States and Canada.

Jim Blome named EVP, COO of Valent U.S.A. Corporation

Jim Blome was named executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO) of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. In his new role, Blome will oversee all day-to-day operations of the company’s growing agricultural, professional and consumer products business units in the United States and Canada.
“Jim brings a wealth of industry experience to this role, combined with outstanding leadership skills. I am confident he will add significant value to this key affiliate of Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited,” said Mike Donaldson, president and chief executive officer of Valent U.S.A. Corporation, Valent BioSciences Corporation and the Latin America and Mexico Regions of Sumitomo Chemical. “Our industry is rapidly changing with the creation of many new opportunities. Valent U.S.A. is focused on providing best-in-class, value-added solutions to customers in every major market segment—and Jim is the right person to help us meet that vision.”
In his new position, Blome will work closely with Valent’s leadership team to continue the company’s strong growth, which in recent years has included several introductions of new products and active ingredients. This trend is expected to continue as the company gears up for the introduction of additional new products for agricultural crops, seed protection initiatives, professional markets and consumer home and garden uses. In addition, Valent U.S.A. is the leader in marketing and selling biorational products supplied by Valent BioSciences Corporation and will be reinforcing the sales and marketing of these products into 2010.
“Valent offers some of the most effective, innovative and respected products available today. It’s extremely rewarding to be a part of a company with such a strong reputation for products and service. Of particular importance is the business diversity, which includes leadership positions in multiple market segments, as well as being the only company with a diversified portfolio of both traditional and biorational products,” Blome said. “In addition, Valent is pursuing a host of exciting new opportunities which will provide our current and potential customers the value they have come to expect from our company’s products. It’s an exciting time, and I firmly believe the best is yet to come.”
For nearly 25 years, Blome has worked in various sales, marketing, business and product development roles in the global agricultural and crop protection industries. He has held a range of management and leadership roles at such industry-leading companies as Agriliance LLC, FMC Corporation, Agtrol Chemical Products, Griffin Corporation and Nufarm Limited. Prior to joining Valent, he oversaw crop protection, fertilizer and agricultural retail projects for AgriCapital Corporation, where he managed mergers, acquisitions and capitalization for leading agricultural and biotechnology companies.
Originally from Hubbard, Iowa, Blome holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Iowa State University. He also has completed additional business and marketing programs at the University of Northern Iowa, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago.
For more information about Valent products, Valent U.S.A. Corporation or the full product line, visit www.valent.com