By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : April 15, 2026 7:52 am
New Corteva will be innovation-driven in both its product portfolio and its operating model
Corteva officially appointed Luther "Luke" Kissam as the Chief Executive Officer of "New Corteva," its future standalone crop protection company. Kissam, the former CEO of Albemarle Corporation, will join Corteva on 1 June 2026 as CEO of the Crop Protection business unit before assuming the top role at the new public entity upon its 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.
"Over the past several months, we have conducted a comprehensive search and assessment of many strong candidates, and we appointed Luke because it is clear that he is the right leader to continue to strengthen New Corteva’s position as a global market leader in the dynamic, competitive crop protection industry,” said Corteva Chair Greg Page. “Luke’s track record of propelling public companies towards sustained, innovation-led growth and integrated, market-focused solutions will serve farmers, customers and shareholders equally well.”
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.
“New Corteva will have every ingredient it needs to continue its upward trajectory: a talented leadership team, knowledgeable, passionate employees and loyal customers who understand the difference innovation creates – on their fields and for their bottom line. I am excited to take the helm of a company poised for such transformational success,” said Kissam.
He continued, “I grew up in a farming community, and that’s where I feel most at home. I also value the critical role agriculture plays in our economy and our society. For all these reasons, it’s a pleasure to rejoin an industry delivering solutions to help farmers grow more food – and fuel – to power our growing world.”