Mark Herrmann
Chief Executive Officer, S&W Seed Company

Mr. Herrmann was appointed to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2023. He previously served as President and Founder of ACUMEN LLC, a Seed Executive Consultant firm, since 2021. He is currently on the Advisory Board for EarthSence LLC, an Agricultural Robotics company based in Indianapolis, Ind. He served on the American Seed Trade Association Board from 2009 to 2020, its Executive Board from 2015 to 2020, and as Chairman in 2016/17. Mr. Herrmann also participated on the NCGA Advisory Council AIG from 2008 to 2010.

Mr. Herrmann has over 35 years of experience in all aspects of the seed industry. Most recently serving as the CEO for AgReliant Genetics LLC, from 2016 to 2020. Headquartered in Westfield, Ind. AgReliant Genetics LLC is an innovative seed company committed to delivering high-quality seed, providing exceptional service and creating consistent customer value. Created in 2000 as a joint venture between the international seed groups KWS and Limagrain, AgReliant Genetics is ranked as one of the largest field seed companies in North America. AgReliant Genetics markets corn, soybean, sorghum and alfalfa seed through three brands: AgriGold®, LG Seeds®, PRIDE Seeds®.

Before AgReliant Genetics, Mr. Herrmann spent 15 years with Monsanto in numerous roles including; Vice President North America Vegetable Seed based in Oxnard CA from 2011 to 2016, Vice President Technology Development and Licensing from 2009 to 2011, President of Corn States LLC from 2005 to 2009, Director Eastern US from 2003 to 2005 and Director Monsanto US Seed and Trait Business from 1999 to 2003, based in St Louis MO. Mr. Herrmann joined Monsanto through the acquisition of DEKALB Genetics Corporation in 1998, where he started in the seed business in 1984 as a Sales Manager and over his time with DEKALB Genetics had the opportunity to provide leadership in various roles and geographies across Sales, Marketing and Product Management. He was born and raised in Northern Illinois and holds a BS in Agronomy from Western Illinois University. Mark and his wife Rebecca live in the Indianapolis, Ind., area and have two children: a daughter, Tate; and a son, Peyton.

Vanessa Baughman
Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Baughman joined S&W as Chief Financial Officer in May 2023. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance of AgReliant Genetics, LLC, the largest North American company focused solely on seed, headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, where she served as CFO from January 2019 to March 2023. From January 2000 to January 2019, Ms. Baughman held numerous finance roles of increasing responsibility at Monsanto Company, a previously public agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation acquired by Bayer in June 2018, including as US Strategic Account, Distribution Strategy and Licensing Finance Lead, Global Commercial Crop Protection and Seed Applied Solutions Finance Lead and, most recently, NALAN Supply Chain Finance Lead from September 2017 to January 2019. Ms. Baughman received a B.S. in Accounting from University of Holy Cross and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. She has also completed the General Management Program certification at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Cameron Henley
Managing Director, S&W Seed Company International

Mr. Henley is the Managing Director of S&W Seed Company International based in Australia. He has previously held the position of Commercial General Manager of the International business after initially joining the organization in 2019 as Regional Manager for the MENA market.

Mr Henley has been involved in the seed industry in both Australia and internationally for over 20 years. Initially with Pyne Gould Guinness, when in 2001 he was responsible for the expansion of the turf and lawn seed division into a national wholesale business and then later in 2005 with the merged PGG Wrightson, established the turf and revegetation unit which is now Australia’s largest supplier servicing this sector. In 2011 Mr. Henley moved to New Zealand to manage both the Australian and New Zealand turf and revegetation divisions. Upon returning to Australia, he was appointed National Sales and Marketing manager for the Australian PGG Wrightson Seeds forage business, leading a national sales and marketing team that focused on proprietary seeds as well as managing numerous national accounts. It was during this time, he was responsible for the commercialization and release into the Australian market of leading unique germplasm that contained traits and technology that captured high value for both farmers and the organization.

After a brief time working in the seed enhancement and treatment industry, gaining important knowledge on seed applied additives, Mr. Henley joined S&W Seed Company International as the manager of the Middle Eastern and North African division, responsible for the sales and marketing of predominantly Alfalfa and Sorghum into the highly prized and challenging to manage region. Following a strategic acquisition by S&W of a family-owned Australian based pasture and forage seed business with a national footprint, he was then given responsibility for all commercially related activities for the S&W Seed Company both domestically and internationally. Mr. Henley brings a wealth of domestic and international experience combined with a focused drive and passion for building sustainable and profitable businesses.

Dennis Jury
Senior Vice President, International Production and Supply Chain

Mr. Jury is a veteran of the agricultural industry, having worked for ICI Crop Care, Schering Ag, and South Australian Seedgrowers Cooperative (later ‘Seedco,’ then subsequently known as ‘SeedMark’) in various roles including territory sales, territory manager and product and market development manager, before joining Seed Genetics International in August 2003 as General Manager. He was appointed Managing Director of Seed Genetics International in July 2009. Mr. Jury studied Agricultural Science at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in Urbrae, South Australia with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree, and received his MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Brent Johnson
Vice President Sales & Marketing for Americas

Mr. Johnson is currently the VP of Sales & Marketing for the Americas. Mr. Johnson served as National Sales Director for North America when joining the organization in 2019. The sales team that Mr. Johnson led during his three years as sales director increased core crop revenue, including alfalfa and grain sorghum by 41% and 48% respectively.

Mr. Johnson has been in the seed industry for nearly 30 years. His early career was in ag retail working as a crop specialist. Mr. Johnson then served as a territory manager at Cargill in Wisconsin where he worked on the pilot and launch of brown mid rib corn silage which was the highest-priced seed corn sold at that time. In 1997, Mr. Johnson joined WL Research as the Midwest regional manager and was responsible for recruiting new distribution, providing sales training, and technical support to WL alfalfa customers including many national ag retail companies.

In 2006, Forage Genetics (Land O’Lakes) purchased WL Research and the WL alfalfa brand. Mr. Johnson continued his work with Forage Genetics and was an integral part of the Forage Genetics launch of both the Roundup Ready alfalfa and HarvXtra alfalfa traits. Mr. Johnson was involved in both piloting and launching that industry’s most expensive, most valuable trait once again. Before leaving Forage Genetics in 2018, Mr. Johnson led the U.S. commercial alfalfa team including three internal Forage Genetics brands and its private label and licensing business in the U.S.

Mr. Johnson’s depth of experience in all levels of sales and marketing in the seed industry has been a critical part of the growth success in each position he has held. Mr. Johnson is currently a member of the Western Seed Association, Midwest Forage Association and the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance. Mr. Johnson has served as treasurer on the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance board and has both led and participated in Washington, D.C. activities to promote the benefits of the crops he has represented over the years.

Andrea McFarlane
Global Director Human Resources

Ms. McFarlane joined S&W Seed Company in November 2019 as Global Director of Human Resources. Andrea comes with over 20 years of progressive experience in human resources management. She started her HR career in Ontario, Canada before moving to Colorado in 1998. She has diverse industry experience, including manufacturing/ operations, warehouse/distribution, mergers and acquisitions, privately held and private equity environments.