ALVIN, TEXAS, US — Karsten Neuffer has been named the new global chief executive officer of RiceTec Inc., effective Aug. 1, the company announced June 20. An experienced agricultural business leader, Neuffer succeeds Mike Gumina, who is retiring after eight years at the helm of the rice seed technology company.

“We are very excited to bring Karsten Neuffer as new global CEO on board,” said Constantin Liechtenstein, chairman of the RiceTec board. “His strong seed background and his leadership skills make him the right successor to Mike Gumina, whom I want to thank for his outstanding contribution and dedicated service for the past eight years,” 

Neuffer comes to RiceTec with broad experience in business development and operational leadership. Neuffer received a master of science degree in industrial engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and master of business administration degree in finance, strategy and entrepreneurship from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

He began his career with McKinsey, advising chemical and agriculture corporations, before joining Syngenta in 2006, working in various strategic, commercial, and executive roles, including regional director of Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil, having full responsibility for a $4 billion business operation. In 2018, he joined Indigo AG as international chief operating officer, responsible for developing and executing a strategy to expand Indigo’s presence globally and subsequently took over global commercial leadership as chief commercial officer.

“I am thrilled to join RiceTec, and I look forward to continuing to expand RiceTec’s business and bring our leading technology to rice farmers for a more sustainable agricultural market,” said Neuffer, who will meet growers, partners and employees during RiceTec Field Day on Aug. 11 in Harrisburg, Arkansas, US.

Based in Houston, Texas, US, RiceTec Inc. drives food production sustainability through rice seed technology. RiceTec has been developing hybrid rice seed since 1988, offering the first commercial hybrid rice seed product in 1999.