Corteva Names Luke Kissam as CEO of Future Crop Protection Company Ahead of Planned 2026 Separation

14 April 2026, US: Corteva has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Luther “Luke” Kissam as chief executive officer of “New Corteva,” the future publicly traded crop protection company that will emerge from the company’s planned separation in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The announcement marks a major step in Corteva’s strategy to create a focused crop protection business built around innovation, operational efficiency and differentiated technologies designed to deliver greater value for farmers worldwide.

Luke Kissam will join Corteva on June 1 as CEO of its crop protection business and will officially lead the new standalone company once the separation is completed later this year.

According to the company, New Corteva will operate with an innovation-led portfolio and an asset-light business model. It also plans to make targeted investments to accelerate growth while leveraging its early leadership in nature-inspired technologies and other high-value crop protection solutions.

Corteva Chair Greg Page said the company conducted an extensive search before selecting Kissam, citing his strong record of driving long-term growth, innovation and customer-focused business strategies.

Kissam brings decades of leadership experience in specialty chemicals and agriculture. He previously served as chairman, president and CEO of Albemarle Corporation until his retirement in 2020. Since joining Albemarle in 2003, he held several senior leadership roles across legal, manufacturing and corporate operations.

Before Albemarle, Kissam also held executive legal roles at Merisant Company and Monsanto. Most recently, he served as senior advisor at Bernhard Capital Partners Management.

Commenting on his appointment, Kissam said New Corteva has the talent, customer base and innovation pipeline needed to continue its growth trajectory. He also highlighted his personal connection to agriculture, noting that he grew up in a farming community and values the sector’s critical role in feeding and powering a growing world.

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