CubicFarms announces the appointments of Leo Benne as its Chief Product Officer, and Jo-Ann Ostermann as Chief Customer Officer, effective immediately.
Mr. Benne currently serves as a member of the company’s Board of Directors, and is credited for developing CubicFarms’ technology for growing fresh produce along with his father Jack Benne, who is founder of Bevo Farms – one of North America’s largest plant propagation businesses. Mr. Benne has been intimately involved in the development of the CubicFarms system into a proven, automated solution for growing commercial quantities of leafy greens and herbs, while being an active board member and contributing to corporate strategy. Mr. Benne gained advanced knowledge of modern horticultural methods in the Netherlands and subsequently through his involvement in Bevo Farms for almost 30 years. He has been a key figure in CubicFarms due to his extensive experience in the application of computer technology to the production of healthy, high-yield plants. Mr. Benne is responsible for the R&D of machines and produce as CubicFarms’ Chief Product Officer.
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Ms. Ostermann joined CubicFarms in 2016 as Vice President and one of its earliest employees, and has helped build the company from the ground up alongside Mr. Benne and CEO Dave Dinesen, with oversight across multiple departments including farming operations, R&D and machine installation. She led the company’s successful GlobalGAP certification this year to maintain internationally-recognized best practices for food and product safety. In her promoted role of Chief Customer Officer, she is responsible for overall customer experience, encompassing account management and customer support. She also oversees the company’s subscription program, which includes software updates, new crop growing protocols, optimization data, training and grower support, as well as the consumables program, which includes the supply of seeds, nutrients, substrates, and packaging to customers. Ms. Ostermann is one of the few people in North America to have opened and operated a vertical farming operation on a commercial scale. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing with distinction and an MBA from the University of Calgary.
“I’m excited about Leo and Jo-Ann’s new roles as they epitomize the next chapter of CubicFarms, which is all about supporting our customers and driving ever greater efficiency in our systems and expanding what we can grow. The calibre of their leadership positions CubicFarms to accelerate our vision of 'Technology to Feed a Changing World' through increased R&D activities and system installations at home and abroad. Happy, successful customers and new technological advancements in machine capabilities and crop varieties are paramount. Leo possesses the unique combined expertise of machine design and the optimization of plant growth, while Jo-Ann has touched almost every aspect of the business and understands what it takes to help our customers be successful in their local markets. We are fortunate to have such a capable team as we continue to expand globally,” said Mr. Dinesen.
For more information:
CubicFarms
1-888-280-9076
[email protected]
www.cubicfarms.com
