Kevin Smith

Background

About Kevin Smith

Kevin is a hands-on multicultural leader with 30 years of Board and C-Level executive experience in specialty chemicals who is passionate about securing the future of food production with innovative biological crop protection and plant stimulation solutions. He has transformed, built and driven high growth global businesses by developing, inspiring and energising teams around a vision and delivering highly profitable customer solutions strategies. He has extensive experience in technology and commercial licensing, origination and delivery of M&A, corporate integration, organisational change and value creation initiatives. Kevin enjoys chairing and serving on boards, mentoring CEO and attracting and integrating new investors. He is adept at board restructuring and at collaborating with other directors to ensure a highly effective, action-oriented board. He is highly effective in drawing out the best in his management teams. He has worked in many different business environments; from large public companies to medium sized private equity enterprises, to venture capital backed start-up and early-stage businesses. Kevin serves on the board of Verdesian Life Sciences (AEA portfolio company), is Chairman of the Board of Micropep Technologies (shareholders include Sofinnova Partners, Supernova Invest, FMC Ventures and IRDI Capital Investissement) and frequently acts as a Senior Independent Advisor to the likes of major international chemicals companies and is an Independent Investor. Previous career included Senior Vice President Global Automotive, Aerospace & Non-Ferrous and President EMEA, Houghton International (Quaker Houghton NYSE: KWR), CEO EMEA, Arysta LifeScience (UPL; a realised Permira portfolio company), Director, French Crop Protection Association (UIPP), Group Managing Director Europe, Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation). Earlier in his career he was Managing Consultant in corporate strategy, Cresap Telesis/Bain & Company and he held several commercial positions at Perkins Engines/Caterpillar. P&L responsibility 750 M€, 2500 employees, 23 production and service locations across 45 countries. Global product responsibilty $750m.