TEL-AVIV, Israel, Nov. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Makhteshim Agan Group ("MAI" or the "Company"), the world leader in branded off-patent crop protection solutions, today announced the appointment of Dr. Anders Harfstrand as President & Chief Executive Officer of its Europe Region. The appointment is effective as of January 1, 2013.

Dr. Harfstrand, who will be based in the Company's headquarters in Switzerland, has also been appointed a member of MAI's senior management team. In his new role, he will work closely with MAI's European Leadership Team, as well as promote cooperation between MAI's Europe Region and its other regions to better facilitate the Company's holistic business approach. He replaces erIgnacio Dominguez, that is taking over the position of the Company's Chief Commercial Officer and head of its Products & Marketing Division.

Dr. Harfstrand brings to MAI two decades of experience as a senior business executive at leading pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Humabs Biomed SA, a Swiss-based company engaged in the discovery of human monoclonal antibodies and CEO of NITEC Pharma AG. Dr. Harfstrand was also the Senior Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales in charge of Central and Eastern Europe, the Nordic, Asia, Latin America and Canada at Serono International SA. Prior to that, he held a number of executive positions at Pfizer, including Executive Vice President of Specialty Products and Business Development of Pfizer Japan, as well as Vice President of Pharmacia in charge of several of the global main therapy areas.

He is a member of the boards of public and private Swiss pharmaceutical companies, as well as the Chairman of Harfstrand Consulting Company. Dr. Harfstrand received his PhD in Medical Science and MD from Sweden's Karolinska Institute.  

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Erez Vigodman, President and CEO of Makhteshim Agan, stated, "I am delighted to welcome Anders Harfstrand to MAI. Dr. Harfstrand is a strong business leader who brings to our company deep, hands-on managerial experience in the pharma industry, especially in strategic sales and marketing, business development and M&A. His broad skillset and knowledge of multi-cultural global organizations, such as ours, will be an important asset for MAI as we continue to expand our global and European operations. I look forward to working with Anders and am certain that MAI in general and our European region in particular, will benefit greatly from his extensive knowledge, experience skills and capabilities." 

About Makhteshim Agan
Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and distributor worldwide of crop-protection solutions and the largest off-patent player in the industry. The Company supplies efficient solutions to farmers that assist them in combating disease and increasing yields. In 2011, the Company's revenues were over $2.69 billion, and it is ranked seventh in the world in the overall agro-chemicals industry. The Company is characterized by its know-how, high-level technological-chemical abilities, expertise in product registration, and observance of strict standards of environmental protection, stringent quality control and global marketing and distribution channels. For more information, visit us at www.ma-industries.com.

Contact:
Rony Patishi-Chillim
SVP of Global Corporate Communications
Email: IR@ma-industries.com
Phone: +972 73 232 1941

SOURCE Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd.