Change at the Top for Agri / Energy Insights Firm DTN

US firm DTN has named Executive Chairman Jerre Stead and Board Member Sheryl von Blucher as co-CEOs, replacing Kip Pendleton who has left the company for personal reasons. Stead left his role as Chairman and CEO of IHS Markit last month.

Based in Minneapolis and with offices around the globe, DTN provides insights for the agriculture, energy, commodity and financial analytics sectors, as well as 'weather-sensitive industries' - a client base it describes as those 'focused on feeding, protecting and fueling the world'. It also produces agricultural magazine The Progressive Farmer.

Stead was Executive Chairman of US-based energy and environment intelligence specialist IHS from December 2000, combining this with CEO from September 2006 until June 2013. He then stepped back into the CEO role in 2015 when the company announced it would be 'ending its relationship' with President & CEO Scott Key by mutual agreement. The company then merged with London-based information and analytics firm IHS in 2016, in a $13bn deal. Prior to joining IHS, Stead spent 21 years in a number of senior positions at Honeywell; then worked for Square D Company; was Chairman, President & CEO of AT&T; and worked at NCR Japan, Legent Corporation and Ingram Micro. COO Lance Uggla moved into his shoes at IHS Markit, earlier this month. Stead is a graduate of the University of Iowa and the Harvard University Advanced Management Program.

von Blucher has held executive leadership roles in the global integrated energy, information services, and public and non-profit sectors. From 2008, she worked in private equity portfolio management, including as a partner and MD for the JMJS Group; and she currently serves on the Board of Directors of Washington Prime Group, Inc. and Epic Research & Diagnostics, among other firms; and on the Board of Trustees for the not-for-profits Guideposts; IWF, a museum and designated U.S. National Historic Site; and UAHT, United Against Human Trafficking. She holds a bachelor's degree from Rice University and a master's from Harvard University.

Stead comments: 'Since completing the acquisition of DTN in May 2017, so much has been accomplished in transitioning ownership and establishing a vision and strategy for DTN's future, and we look forward to continuing to support its progress in our expanded roles'. von Blucher says the pair and the company will focus on 'the many opportunities we have to expand our efforts in empowering our customers with intelligent, actionable insights that enable their success on a daily basis'.

Web site: www.dtn.com .