Our Team
Our greatest strength, propelling our achievements, lies within our team. With a rich tapestry of talents, skills, and profound experiences spanning several decades, our team embodies the essence of Africa and the Middle East. Together, we weave a narrative of qualities that not only characterize our team but also lay the foundation for impactful change, driving our projects forward.
We hold our team in high esteem. They are approachable, practical, considerate, and consistently attuned to our industry, our partners, and the farmers who sustain us.
Our credibility stands as one of the most invaluable assets within this industry.
Leadership team
John Barnes
Founder & Chairman
More than 30 years of experience in the crop protection industry within recognized multinationals and middle sized companies, specializing in Europe, Africa, Middle-East and Asia
Franck Baque
Managing Director & C.F.O.
15 years of experiences in Finance including 4 years within one of the Big 4 Audit Firms and close to 10 years in the Agro-Chemical industry mainly in Europe, Africa & Middle-East
Stephen Pearce
Scouting & head of strategic supply partnerships
20 years experience in Life Science, Pharma & Biotechnology Industries in both Publically owned and Private sectors. Last 15 years specialised in Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship management & Supplier Devt and Low-cost country sourcing operations including India and China
Pascal Feidt
Head of Business development WECA & NAME
More than 15 years of experience in the commodity trading, crop protection & seeds industry within recognized multinationals in Northern Africa and Middle-East. M&A and finance background
Gert Visser
Business Manager - Southern Africa
Holder of a National Diploma in Agricultural Mgt from C.P.U.T and with 8 years’ experience in the agrochemical industry as National Technical, Marketing and Sales Manager in South Africa after 6 years’ experience in managing farming of various crops in the Western Cape
Yann Miege
Head of Marketing
24 years experience in the agricultural inputs industry (Conventional, organic CP, Biostimulant, Fertilizer) as Technical, Head of sales, Head of marketing, Managing Director for multinational companies across AME & Southern Europe.
Simon Schuster
C.O.O.
In the last 10 years, Simon has worked extensively in global product management, strategy development, and strategic account management. Completing his MBA in 2023, Simon has deepened his grasp on business operations and management.