Agtech company Pivot Bio has announced the election of Melih Keyman to its Board of Directors. Keyman, a seasoned expert with over 40 years of experience in the global fertilizer industry, will bring valuable knowledge and insight to the company’s operations.
Melih Keyman’s Professional Background
Melih Keyman is the president, CEO, and founder of Keytrade AG, one of the world’s leading fertilizer trading companies. Keytrade serves suppliers, distributors, retailers, and end users globally, providing a range of fertilizer products. Through its subsidiary, WeGrow, the company also works to bring next-generation fertilizer technologies to market, offering sustainable crop nutrition solutions.
Before founding Keytrade, Keyman held prominent positions with ENKA Marketing in Turkey and Transammonia. His career has also included substantial board experience, having served on the board of The Fertilizer Institute and as a council member of the International Fertilizer Association. He has also contributed to the boards of FertGrow, Transammonia, and Ferpro AG, a joint venture between Sinochem and Transammonia.
In addition to his business achievements, Keyman has been deeply involved in education and philanthropy. He has served as the first international trustee of Northwestern University since 2012. Keyman has funded the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies program at the university and is currently supporting its Center for Synthetic Biology, which is working on novel crop nutrition technologies to address global food challenges.
Keyman holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of New Hampshire and furthered his education at Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen. He also completed the Kellogg Executive Scholar in Leadership and Management program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Keyman as asset to Pivot Bio
Pivot Bio’s CEO, Chris Abbott, expressed enthusiasm about Keyman’s appointment, highlighting his extensive experience in the fertilizer industry and broader agriculture sector. He also emphasized that Keyman’s deep understanding of the global fertilizer market and commodity fundamentals would be a great asset as Pivot Bio builds strategic partnerships, including those with fertilizer partners.
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“Melih’s vast leadership experience with global operations, strategy, and M&A will be important to Pivot Bio as we continue our growth trajectory.”
A native of Turkey and a citizen of Switzerland, Keyman has resided in Zurich since 1984. His diverse background and long-standing expertise in the fertilizer industry are expected to bring valuable perspectives to Pivot Bio’s Board of Directors.