March 5, 2018, Kentville, NS – Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc is pleased to announce Dr. Viliam Zvalo is its new chief executive officer.
Dr. Zvalo joins Perennia from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland, Ont., where he has led their world crop program since 2014. Under his leadership, non-traditional crops such as okra, Chinese long and Indian round eggplant have began to find ground on Canadian farms. Prior to his time at Vineland, he was a team lead and senior specialist for 13 years at Perennia, focusing on all vegetables crops. At the beginning of his professional career, he worked in Canada’s biotechnology and agricultural chemical industry, which helped him gain a better understanding of the private sector research and development environment.
“The board of directors is very pleased to welcome Viliam back to Perennia in this new capacity,” says Perennia Chairman Charles Keddy of Keddy Nursery in Kentville, NS. “He brings a wealth of agricultural, research and business experience and leadership, and has a keen interest in Nova Scotia’s fisheries sector and working with industry and the Perennia team to create more wealth for clients.”
Dr. Zvalo has a PhD in plant physiology/soil ecology and an executive MBA from St. Mary’s University. He has travelled extensively and has built successful partnerships working with growers, suppliers and technology providers and many agriculture development agencies locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“I am very excited to be returning to Perennia is this new position and to work with such a professional and accomplished team,” says Dr. Zvalo. “It is awesome to be coming back to Nova Scotia and to support the growth of these two important sectors.”
Perennia also announced the appointment of Lynne Godlien as its new chief operating officer. Godlien has been at the helm of Perennia as interim CEO for the past year and has been with the company in progressively senior positions since 2001, most recently as director of marketing and communications.
“The board is confident this new senior management team will do great work with the team, board and partners to create tangible results for our agriculture and seafood clients,” says Keddy.
Dr. Zvalo will start as CEO in April 4, 2018. Until that time, Godlien will continue as interim CEO.
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