Edwin van den Nieuwendijk of Profile Products (L), and Ken Barham (Top R) and Brendan Deck (Bottom R) or Nufarm
Profile Products Hires Edwin Van Den Nieuwendijk as Sales and Business Development Manager for Europe and Asia
Profile Products has added a new resource to its Profile Growing Solutions business. Edwin van den Nieuwendijk will be the Sales and Business Development Manager for Europe and Asia. In this role, he will be focused on supporting the Quick Plug line of bonded growing media for plant propagation. Earlier in his career, he held a similar role with Quick Plug prior to its acquisition by Profile Products in 2022.
“As the son of a grower, Edwin has been immersed in the floriculture industry his entire life,” says Brian Kura, Vice President of Propagation, Retail, and International at Profile Products. “His extensive experience in tropical plants, ornamental and potted plants, as well as tissue culture, makes him a valuable addition to our team. We are confident that Edwin’s deep industry knowledge and proven track record will drive our growth in Europe and Asia.”
Van den Nieuwendijk joins Profile from Dümmen Orange. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of Quick Plug EMEA, where he spearheaded efforts that significantly contributed to business growth. Van den Nieuwendijk also brings valuable experience from his time at Anthura, where he became an expert in orchids. His in-depth knowledge of this category and other tropical crops has equipped him with the expertise to assist the top growers.
Van den Nieuwendijk has extensive international experience and has traveled globally throughout his career. While his primary language is Dutch, he is also fluent in English and Spanish, with partial fluency in German and Japanese.
“We are excited to welcome Edwin back to the team,” Kura adds. “His international experience and multilingual abilities will be instrumental in strengthening our global presence and enhancing our customer relationships.”
For more information on Profile Growing Solutions, visit profilegrowing.com. For product information about the Quick Plug family of propagation solutions, visit quickplug.com.
Brendan Deck Transitions to Corporate Advisory Role at Nufarm and Ken Barham Appointed General Manager North America
After building and growing Nufarm in North America for the past nine and a half years, Brendan Deck will return to Australia in December 2024. In his new role, Brendan will continue to support Nufarm as a Strategic Advisor to the Group, utilizing his considerable commercial and product experience.
Under Brendan’s leadership, Nufarm has achieved important and significant milestones in North America. These achievements include the greenfield development of Nufarm’s state-of-the-art formulation facility in Greenville MS, the modernization and expansion of Nufarm’s facilities in Chicago Heights and Alsip, and the development of important strategic relationships with customers and suppliers. Brendan’s leadership drove growth in relevance and profitability for Nufarm with a relentless focus on customers and ease of doing business.
Brendan will be succeeded as Regional General Manager of North America by Ken Barham, effective from Oct. 1, 2024. Ken is currently the Vice President of Sales for Nufarm’s crop protection business in the U.S. Ken Barham joined Nufarm in August 2017 as the North American Customer Marketing Lead before moving into his current crop protection sales leadership role in 2021. With a comprehensive understanding of the crop protection sector, Ken has worked in the field for over 20 years, including senior roles in operations, sales, and marketing, with experience spanning Alligare, Syngenta, and Nufarm. Ken shares a passion for customers and for making Nufarm increasingly relevant and valuable to its channel partners. Ken’s success at Nufarm includes the implementation of digital marketing technology, an evolutionary approach to customer account planning, and the oversight of key product launches into the North American market. Ken has been an instrumental part of a leadership team that has achieved significant milestones in processes, capabilities, and growth.
Commenting on the change, Nufarm CEO Greg Hunt says, “Brendan Deck and Ken Barham epitomize Nufarm’s relentless focus on delivering for our customers and suppliers. For the past 10 years, Brendan Deck has led the growth of our North American business, achieving many important milestones. Ken Barham joined Nufarm in 2017 and brings more than 20 years of commercial experience in the crop protection industry to the role.”
“Ken’s strategic leadership will be an important extension of the substantial contributions of Brendan Deck who has grown and shaped our business in North America for the past nine and a half years,” Greg adds.
Brendan Deck and Ken Barham epitomize Nufarm’s focus on delivering for its customers and suppliers, through quality solutions and ease of doing business. Over recent times, Nufarm has invested in its portfolio and manufacturing facilities to provide foundational and innovative solutions. Investments in Chicago Heights, Alsip, and Greenville are tangible examples of delivering on foundational products. At the same time, investments and partnerships with companies such as Enko, Moa, and CSIRO are providing the opportunity to leverage disruptive technology that will deliver faster, cheaper, and more targeted solutions for growers.
