Mark Schermer Named New Boss at Syngenta Flowers

Chris Beytes

Syngenta Flowers has just announced that Michael Kester will retire at the end of 2020 after 42 years at Syngenta and Mark Schermer is being appointed as his successor as global head of Syngenta Flowers as of September 1.

Mark has been around the flower business since the ’90s, including stints with Fides, Fides Oro and Dümmen Orange in various marketing, communications and management roles. He joined Syngenta in January 2018 as Head of Flowers Marketing for Europe and then was appointed Head of Flowers Europe in May 2019. He will be based at Syngenta’s global Seeds office in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Meanwhile, Michael Kester is stepping down after dedicating his entire career to Syngenta. He's held senior roles in the Crop Protection business in Africa, Germany, Argentina and Japan. He then led the Vegetable Seeds business in Europe, Africa and Middle East, and subsequently the Syngenta organization in Benelux. For the last three years, he’s been head of Syngenta Flowers. GT