Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina
September 13, 2004
Bayer CropScience
has appointed William Buckner to head its U.S. business
operations, effective Oct. 1, 2004. In his new role, Buckner
will report to Esmail Zirakparvar, head of Bayer CropScience for
the Region Americas and President and CEO of Bayer CropScience
LP, the global company’s U.S. business. Bayer CropScience ranks
third in sales among North American crop science companies.
“We will be very pleased to have Bill Buckner leading our U.S.
business operations,” Zirakparvar said. “The United States
represents a significant portion of the world’s crop protection
market, and we believe he is the right person to help us further
grow market share here by providing the innovative products and
best-in-class service that add value to the businesses of our
American farmers.“
Zirakparvar was appointed to his position as head of the Region
Americas for Bayer CropScience in July 2004 when the company
adopted a new global organizational structure. He also was
appointed President & CEO of Bayer CropScience LP at that time.
Buckner succeeds Bernd Naaf, who will become head of the
Asia-Pacific Region for Bayer CropScience. In his new position
as head of U.S. business operations, Buckner will be located at
the company’s Region Americas business headquarters in
Research Triangle Park,
N.C.
Buckner’s most recent assignment was President & CEO of Bayer
CropScience in Canada. He has headed the Canadian operations
since 1998. Prior to that assignment, he held several senior
positions at the company’s global headquarters in Monheim,
Germany,
as well as in the
United States.
He has been with Bayer’s agriculture business since 1993.
“I am excited about the opportunity to return to the United
States and join our
U.S. business,” Buckner stated. “We have introduced a number of
new products to the North American market over the past several
years and plan to introduce others. We look to continue to
provide those new technologies that help to increase the
competitiveness of American growers, and we look to continue to
live up to our slogan Your
Partner for Growth.”
Buckner was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Mexico,
Mo. He attended the University of Missouri, graduating in 1979
with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. Buckner's
business career spans 24 years in the areas of agri-finance,
veterinary pharmaceuticals and crop science.
Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience,
which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer
CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about
EUR 5.8 billion (2003), is one of the world’s leading innovative
crop science companies in the areas of crop protection,
non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology.
The company offers an outstanding range of products and
extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and
for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a
global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than
120 countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers. |
