Recent changes to FMC Corp.’s executive leadership team

April 2024

FMC Corp. recently changed its leadership team, which includes the planned retirements of two executives.

Dave Kotch, vice president and chief information officer (CIO), elected to retire from FMC on May 1 following a 40-year career with the company. Under his leadership, Kotch transformed the company’s business and financial systems into a highly integrated network focused on commercial success. He was an early champion of aligning the Information Technology (IT) function with specific business needs and is credited with driving functional excellence across IT, including operating efficiency, cybersecurity and network reliability.

Following Kotch’s retirement, the IT organization will integrate multiple functions and disciplines as part of a new, integrated digital business model encompassing systems, data and analytics. A Digital Business Council will drive collaboration and IT efficiency across the company’s commercial teams, business processes, operations and precision agriculture.

Shawn Whitman, vice president of government affairs, decided to retire from FMC on April 1 to pursue other career opportunities. During his 11 years with the company, Whitman transformed the function from a U.S.-centric organization into a broad, global team with tighter business alignment. Under his leadership, FMC expanded strategic partnerships with leading regional and international organizations.

According to the company, he was instrumental in strengthening FMC’s voice with policymakers and government leaders worldwide. Following Whitman’s retirement, the Government Affairs function will report directly to Julie DiNatale, vice president and chief sustainability officer.

“The impact Dave and Shawn have had on our company has been immense,” said Mark Douglas, FMC president and chief executive officer. “Dave has devoted his entire career to FMC and his imprint is on every facet of our business systems and IT infrastructure around the world. He has been a champion of IT strategy grounded in business priorities, commercial results and efficiency.”

May 2024

FMC Corp. elected Darren Dillenbeck, current president of FMC U.S.A., as the vice president and president of FMC North America. The company also appointed Renato Guimarães as vice president and president of FMC Latin America.

Dillenbeck joined FMC in 2018 and led the company’s Canadian business until being named president of FMC U.S.A. in 2022. He has more than 25 years of experience in the agricultural industry, including commercial leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow AgroSciences). He will also join the FMC operating committee.

“Darren is an exceptional commercial leader who has delivered strong results in the U.S. and Canada,” said Mark Douglas, president and CEO of FMC. “In recent years, FMC has accelerated the introduction of new products in North America and we expect this trend to continue as we prepare to launch several technologies in the coming years, including new active ingredients, new biological products and applications for precision agriculture. Darren will play an instrumental role leading the region on this exciting journey.”

According to the company, FMC has grown its market share and has successfully introduced several new products in the U.S. and Canada under Dillenbeck’s leadership.

Guimarães brings more than three decades of agribusiness experience to his new role leading FMC’s Latin America region. He most recently served as CEO of a large crop protection retailer in Brazil. He has also held sales and marketing leadership roles for more than two decades in Brazil at Syngenta (formerly Sandoz and Novartis).

“Renato is a highly respected leader in the crop protection industry in Brazil and throughout the region,” Douglas said. “With extensive experience across the value chain, including at tier-one crop protection companies, retailers and operating his own farm, he has a comprehensive view of agriculture and the opportunities in crop protection today and in the future.”

Guimarães graduated as an agronomist from the School of Agriculture of Lavras in Brazil and earned his MBA from Fundação Dom Cabral. He will be based at the company’s Latin America regional headquarters in Campinas, Brazil. Guimarães will also join the FMC operating committee.