Corteva Inc. Appoints Luther ("Luke") Kissam as the Chief Executive Officer of "New Corteva'' Its Crop Protection Business, Effective June 1, 2026

Published: 2026-04-14 13:07:21 ET CTVA

Published on 04/14/2026 at 01:07 pm EDT

Corteva Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has named Luther ("Luke") Kissam the chief executive officer of "New Corteva," the future publicly-traded, differentiated crop protection company resulting from the current company's planned separation in the fourth quarter of 2026. New Corteva will be innovation-driven in both its product portfolio and its operating model, leveraging its technological leadership to deliver for farmers while also running an asset-light, efficient business. The company intends to make targeted investments to support growth and leverage its first-mover advantage in nature-inspired technologies to pursue opportunities promising attractive returns in markets that reward differentiation.

Luke will join Corteva on June 1 as CEO of its crop protection business, becoming CEO of the new, public company at separation, which is on track for the fourth quarter of 2026. Luke brings to the role extensive experience in specialty chemicals as well as agriculture: he previously served as chairman, president and CEO of Albemarle Corporation, a global specialty chemicals leader, until his retirement from the company in June 2020. Luke joined Albemarle in 2003 as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary and served as senior vice president, manufacturing and law, and corporate secretary from 2008 until his promotion to president in 2010.

Prior to joining Albemarle, Luke served as vice president, general counsel and secretary of Merisant Company, having previously served as associate general counsel at Monsanto. His most recent role was senior advisor at Bernhard Capital Partners Management.