IARN — GROWMARK has named Mark Orr as its new Chief Executive Officer of the North American agriculture and energy cooperative effective March 1st, 2022.
In a company press release, GROWMARK officials said Orr will succeed Jim Spradlin, who announced in June his intent to retire on February 28th, 2022. Spradlin has served as GROWMARK’s CEO since September 2014.
Orr is currently GROWMARK’s Vice President of Agronomy, a position he has held since 2014. He is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business. Orr’s extensive previous management experience includes service as a GROWMARK region vice president and as general manager of AgView FS and Piatt County Service Company. His career in the GROWMARK/FS System began in 1990.
In a printed statement, GROWMARK Board Chairman John Reifsteck said, “Mark brings a wealth of proven leadership experience to the chief executive role. As we searched for the ideal candidate, the GROWMARK Board of Directors identified the most critical leadership attributes and experiences required to drive our enterprise business strategies for the long-term success of the GROWMARK/FS System. Mark demonstrates a collaborative approach to leadership along with a passion for innovation and growth that benefits our member-owners, all of our customers, and their end users.”
Orr will work alongside Spradlin through February to ensure a smooth and successful transition, the company said.
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by member cooperatives.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Photo of Mark Orr courtesy of GROWMARK
