DECATUR, ILLINOIS, US — Primient, a global producer of food, feed and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources, has named Mark Smith as its chief operating officer, the company announced Nov. 14.

Smith brings more than 30 years of supply chain, operations and continuous improvement experience to this new role, including a deep background in continuous manufacturing and process engineering. Smith will be based at Primient’s Decatur, Illinois, US, facility.

“Mark has a strong track record of people leadership and technical competency in operations,” said Jim Stutelberg, chief executive officer, Primient. “He is exactly the leader we need to drive our continuous improvement program forward under the Primient operating model.”

Primient employs more than 1,500 people, operates six industrial plants in North America and Latin America, and has an interest in two joint ventures. 

Primient was created when Tate & Lyle PLC announced April 1 it had completed the sale of a controlling stake in a new company comprising its Primary Products business in North America and Latin America and its interests in Almidones Mexicanos SA de CV and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio-Products Co., LLC joint ventures to KPS Capital Partners LP.

KPS holds a 50.1% interest in Primient and has board and operational control. Tate & Lyle holds a 49.9% interest in Primient.