Wirth is New CEO of Merged Kynetec / Kleffmann

Daniel Wirth has been appointed as CEO of Kynetec and the Kleffmann Group, following the recent announcement that the two agricultural and animal health research specialists are merging.

The merger was announced in November, terms undisclosed, and brings Kynetec's team of around 360 research professionals, 220 skilled interviewers and 70 associates and partners in 24 countries together with Kleffmann's 300 plus professionals and more than 18 international subsidiaries in Asia, Australia, Europe, North and Latin America. Both firms boast considerable expertise in animal health and farm animal nutrition, crop protection, farm machinery and equipment. Kleffmann operates a global network of farmer input panels as well as syndicated and bespoke
Ad hoc research studies.

Wirth steps up after Stephen Hearn, founder and former CEO of Kynetec, opted to step back and take on a strategic business development consultancy role, continuing support for the business while spending more time with his family; while Burkhard Kleffmann, founder and former CEO of the Kleffmann Group left to focus on developing a noncompeting agricultural remote sensing business.

Wirth has been with Kynetec for more than a dozen years, leading its US custom research business for five years before taking over as the lead for both the European Crop and Animal Health subscription businesses in 2016. Most recently, he was made COO for the Global Crop Subscription business, which covers more than 60 countries.

Wirth says the company 'operates in a dynamic industry that is experiencing significant change due to consumer food preferences, pursuit of sustainable farming practices, and the emergence of technology adoption and big data', and that he intends to focus on delivering 'a sustainable business model that provides continuous agriculture and animal health data in key global markets'.

The companies are online at www.kynetec.com and www.kleffmann.com .