AgGateway Announces Leadership Transition

AgGateway Staff

AgGateway Announces Leadership Transition

AgGateway has announced that President and CEO Wendy Smith is retiring effective December 31, 2021, and that current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brent Kemp will move into the role of AgGateway President and CEO beginning January 1, 2022.

“I am making the change to spend more time with family and friends, which is an exciting prospect, but I will miss the rich collegial experience at AgGateway, the wonderful people – members and staff – and working relationships we’ve shared, and all the progress we have made together since AgGateway was founded more than 15 years ago,” Smith said. “I’m extremely proud of everything AgGateway has accomplished and continues to accomplish.”

Smith has served as president since 2015, and has been involved with AgGateway since its founding in 2005. During her tenure AgGateway has expanded its areas of involvement and made significant strides in the areas of interoperability, sustainability and traceability. In 2020 Smith oversaw AgGateway’s transition to a global organization, with regional groups in North America, Latin America and Europe.

“While many things have changed in the industry and at AgGateway since I took the helm almost seven years ago, one thing that remains the same is the need for AgGateway,” Smith said. “The work AgGateway does is critical to the long-term sustainability and profitability of our members and the industry. That work needs to continue to expand, and I am confident that under Brent’s leadership and working closely with the membership, AgGateway is well positioned to move to the next level in pursuing its mission.”

Kemp joined AgGateway in 2014 as EVP and COO, and last year also took on the role of North America Regional Director. Prior to joining AgGateway, he served as Manager of Process Development with Southern States Cooperative, where he implemented electronic messaging for multiple business lines across a 15-state geography to achieve process automation. Kemp was active in AgGateway while at Southern States, serving in multiple leadership roles and receiving the AgGateway Ron Storms Leadership Award in 2010.

“Wendy has been a tireless force for the AgGateway mission, and we are extremely grateful for her service these many years,” said Adriano Becker, South America PS&T/Digital Product Marketing with CNH Industrial, and Chair of the AgGateway Board of Directors. “It is both reassuring and exciting to have Brent take on the lead role given his deep experience and dedication. He knows how to foster collaboration and guide a team toward implementation, which are critical skills as we work with the industry to increase digital connectivity.”

Smith will continue to serve through December 31 of this year, and will also be available to Kemp and the AgGateway leadership throughout 2022 to provide any support needed to further facilitate a smooth transition.

AgGateway will share more on the transition, as well as plans for 2022, at the Annual Conference beginning November 8 in Nashville, Tenn. The organization has posted the job for COO/EVP left open by Kemp’s upcoming move into the role of president/CEO (see article this issue on the job opening).