Key Takeaways
- Anthony Klemm has been named CEO of Enko, effective March 3, 2025.
- Klemm succeeds Jacqueline Heard, who will remain an advisor to the company.
- Brings over 30 years of experience in agricultural biotechnology, including leadership roles at Corteva Agriscience, Dow AgroSciences, and DowDuPont.
- Enko will continue leveraging AI-driven innovation to accelerate sustainable crop protection solutions.
- Klemm aims to drive commercialization efforts, expand partnerships, and enhance Enko’s ENKOMPASS™ discovery platform.
Enko Announces Leadership Transition as Anthony Klemm Takes Over as CEO
Enko Chem, Inc., a leading AgTech company developing AI-driven sustainable crop protection solutions, has announced that Anthony Klemm will become the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective March 3, 2025.
Klemm succeeds Jacqueline Heard, who founded Enko in 2017 and led its growth into a world-class agricultural research facility with multiple global research collaborations. She will remain an advisor to the company.
“On behalf of the entire board, I thank Jacqueline for her vision and tremendous contributions in establishing Enko as an innovative, world-leading crop protection development company,” said Tim Hassinger, Enko Board Chair. “We are excited about Tony’s potential to help Enko develop and market the value of faster discovery of more effective and sustainable crop protection products.”
Anthony Klemm’s Background & Vision for Enko
Klemm brings over 30 years of experience in agricultural biotechnology and business development, most recently serving as VP of Global Business Development and Licensing at Corteva Agriscience. There, he led strategic growth initiatives for the Seeds Business Unit.
Key Highlights from Klemm’s Career:
- Held senior leadership roles at Corteva Agriscience, Dow AgroSciences, and DowDuPont.
- Former board member of Crop Life International and the National FFA Foundation Sponsor’s Board.
- Extensive expertise in business strategy, innovation, and commercialization within the agricultural sector.
“I am honored to join Enko at such a pivotal moment in the company’s journey,” said Klemm. “Enko’s pioneering approach to crop protection, leveraging AI-driven innovation, has already established a strong foundation for redefining how we develop solutions that are not only effective but also responsible for the planet.”
Klemm emphasized his commitment to:
- Accelerating product commercialization to bring new solutions to market faster.
- Forging powerful industry partnerships to expand Enko’s global reach.
- Driving AI-led discoveries to revolutionize sustainable crop protection.
Jacqueline Heard’s Legacy & Future at Enko Chem
Since founding Enko in 2017, Jacqueline Heard has built the company into a leader in sustainable crop protection innovation, with:
- Breakthrough AI-driven discovery methods in pesticide and herbicide development.
- Multiple global research collaborations, reinforcing Enko’s position as an industry pioneer.
- The development of the ENKOMPASS™ platform, a proprietary discovery engine for next-generation crop protection.
“I am incredibly proud of what Enko has accomplished,” said Heard. “This planned transition aligns well with Enko’s needs to support the commercialization of products, expand partnerships, and grow future discovery.”
She expressed confidence that Klemm’s leadership will amplify Enko’s strong foundation and accelerate its global impact.
Looking Ahead: Enko’s Next Chapter
With Anthony Klemm at the helm, Enko is poised to:
- Scale its AI-powered crop protection solutions for wider global adoption.
- Expand research collaborations and partnerships to drive agricultural innovation.
- Commercialize sustainable and more effective crop protection products faster.
6 Comments