ZIMBABWE – Seed Co Zimbabwe, a leading producer and marketer of certified seeds, has appointed Mr Terrence Chimanya as the new Managing Director with effect from February 1, 2022.

Terrence replaces Dr Edworks Mhandu who retired from the company on January 31, 2022, having distinguishably served the group for more than three decades.

“We would like to thank Dr Mhandu for his sterling efforts during the period he has served the Group. Dr Mhandu has worked for the Seed Co Group for over 30 years in various senior roles,” stated the company.

Dr Mhandu was Managing Director and Executive Director for Quton Seed Company, Seed Co’s cotton seed company before being appointed Managing Director for the Zimbabwean unit on 1 February 2020.

Prior to his recent appointment, Terrence served the seed producer as the Group Head Legal & Corporate Affairs/ Group Company Secretary, providing the Seed Co Group Boards and its Committees with guidance and advice on governance, legal and compliance matters.

He has vast experience in Business Management, Corporate Governance, Risk Management, Corporate Affairs, Legal Compliance, with a demonstrated experience derived from working in the private and government sectors.

He is also skilled in Legal, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Investor Relations, Business Planning, Management and Business Development and holds a MSc, LLB (Hons), FCIS/FCG.

“Terrence has been acting as the Managing Director for Seed Co Zimbabwe for the last 6 months while Dr Mhandu was receiving medical attention.

“In that period, he has demonstrated very good leadership qualities and managed to hold the team together and steered the ship during a period when the business has been affected by many challenges,” stated Seed Co.

Seed Co International undertakes board appointment

As part of its recent appointments, the parent company of Seed Co Zimbabwe, has appointed Regis Fournier as Non-Executive Board member of the company.

Régis is French and CEO of Limagrain Field Seeds. He studied agronomy in Montpellier and Paris, and holds a Master in Agronomy.

He began his career in 1992 in Maisadour, a cooperative group in the South of France, and progressed to marketing and sales functions before becoming Director of the Seeds Branch in 2003.

He has been Director of Innovation and International Development of the whole Maïsadour Group, and lately was in charge of all the Vegetal productions and business in the Group.

Régis was member of Maisadour Group Management Committee and Board, and General Manager of Mas seeds, a JV between Maisadour and Syngenta.

Since August 2019 he has been the CEO of Limagrain Field Seeds, and member of Limagrain Group Executive Committee.

He was also Chairman of Euroseeds from 2018 to 2021, the trade association for the seed industry in the European Union and the European Economic Area, and member (previously Chairman) of Union Française des Semenciers (UFS), the French seed association for seed companies & plant breeders.

Seed Co International has also bid farewell to Daniel Jacquemond, who has retired from being Non-Executive Board member of the company.

Daniel who joined the group more than 35 years ago has contributed to the definition and deployment of the group’s development and innovation strategy.

In this capacity, he participated in the achievement and consolidation of world leadership in vegetable Seeds, in the internationalization of field seeds, as well as in the transformation of the garden products activity, enabling Vilmorin & Cie to develop constantly and to progressively gain in strength to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s markets.

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