Neogen Corp. CEO and President John Adent will step down after eight years with the company. He will continue to serve in his existing roles until a successor is found, the company said.
Neogen’s board of directors has formed a special committee, comprising Board Chair Jim Borel, Thierry Bernard and Jeff Capello, to direct the search for the company’s next CEO and has engaged a leading global executive search firm. The special committee will also support Adent and the leadership team as they continue to execute Neogen’s strategic initiatives during this period.
“We are grateful for John’s leadership over the past eight years as Neogen has transformed its business to focus on long-term, secular tailwinds in the food safety market,” Borel said. “The board determined that now is the right time to begin a leadership transition and identify the company’s next CEO. Neogen has a broad, differentiated portfolio of critical solutions for customers, and our board remains highly confident in our ability to capitalize on a compelling long-term opportunity. We have significant growth, profitability improvement and portfolio prioritization initiatives underway, and our committee will support the leadership team in its efforts to drive improved performance. We appreciate John’s continued support to ensure a smooth transition while we complete a comprehensive search process.”
Adent began his career with management responsibilities for Purina developing animal feed manufacturing and sales in China and the Philippines. When Purina spun off that business to Agribrands, Adent continued his management role in the European division in Spain and Hungary, serving as managing director of the Hungarian operations after it was acquired by Cargill.
Adent left that organization in 2004 to assume the CEO responsibilities for Animal Health International (AHI), at the time a small private company. Under his leadership, AHI more than quadrupled revenues over the next decade through a series of acquisitions and joint ventures. AHI was acquired by the Patterson Companies in 2015 and Adent continued to serve as CEO of the $3.3 billion animal health division until his role at Neogen.
“It has been an honor to lead Neogen and I am incredibly proud of the team we have built and all we have accomplished together,” Adent said. “Our food and animal safety solutions and industry expertise have never been more critical than they are today. With the broadest portfolio and global reach in the industry and enhanced innovation capabilities, as well as the commercial initiatives and portfolio actions we have underway, Neogen is well positioned to capitalize on the opportunities ahead. I would like to thank our team members for all of their hard work and dedication throughout my tenure. While the board conducts its search for my successor, I am focused on delivering for our customers, driving our strategic and commercial initiatives and ensuring a smooth transition to new leadership.”
