Former president of DuPont Crop Protection joins Cool Planet board of directors
Agriculture technology company Cool Planet added 36-year ag veteran Rik Miller to the company’s board of directors.
Miller was president of DuPont Crop Protection until 2015. During his tenure as president, the business experienced record growth and success with new technology development and market introductions. Miller began his career with DuPont Crop Protection in 1984 and held several leadership positions in sales and marketing, including global business director, global marketing director and regional director–Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has also served as an operating team member and corporate officer of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Cool Planet President and CEO Jim Loar says Miller will add tremendous insight into large scale commercialization of agricultural products as the company continues to grow sales of Cool Terra Engineered Biocarbon products.
“Rik has a record of success in sales and marketing as well as launching new agricultural technology with DuPont,” said Loar. “His broad and practical experience in introducing breakthrough products to production agriculture align with Cool Planet’s mission to help growers improve both profitability and sustainability on their farms.”
“The biggest challenge facing agriculture is to feed a growing population, using available arable land, while being more efficient and sustainable with agricultural inputs,” said Miller. “Cool Planet is an innovative company with proven products to help meet that challenge, and I’m proud to be part of helping to direct this exceptional team going forward.”
Miller is currently on the board of directors of Douglas Products and an advisor with Altamont Capital Partners, focusing on investments in the chemicals sector. He has served on CropLife International’s Strategy Council and the USDA Secretary of Agriculture’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. Miller has been actively involved with the National FFA and 4-H and currently serves on the board of directors of the Montana FFA Foundation. Rik served in the U.S. Navy from 1975–1979 and the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1980–1983. He holds a degree in agronomy from Montana State University with majors in plant and soil science and plant biochemistry.
Kincannon & Reed, a leading global executive search firm focused on the food, agribusiness and biosciences sectors conducted a nationwide search for the board of directors position.