Chinese seed company expands to Des Moines

Origin Agritech, a Chinese seed company now led by an executive with Iowa roots, has opened an office in Des Moines, its first location outside China.

CEO Bill Niebur said the move will help Origin transition from a company that sells corn and soybean seeds to one that creates technology and strategies for other seed companies.

“What this is about is establishing a North American outpost … where we can coordinate, operate and connect with the best scientists and best technology available internationally,” he said.

Founded in 1997, Origin is based in Beijing and will keep its headquarters and the bulk of its workforce in China. Niebur, however, will be based in Des Moines.

The new office in downtown Des Moines' Financial Center building does not represent a significant job gain for the region. It will house only Niebur, Origin’s chief financial officer and a few administrative staff.

But the move underscores the region’s standing as a global player in seed technology and Iowa's close ties with China's agriculture industry, said Chad Hart, an agriculture economist with Iowa State University.

"What it shows, is that if they are going to continue to invest in U.S. ag, they look at this as a base where they could grow from in the future," he said.

The company aims to add more employees in Des Moines over the next several years, Niebur said.

Feeding China: Chinese wary of biotech seed

While major western companies such as Monsanto and Dupont Pioneer have been eager to expand into China and capitalize on the nation’s growth, Origin is moving in the opposite direction. Niebur said he wants Origin to be one of the first multinational agriculture companies to sprout in China and grow to the rest of the world.

Origin’s decision to plant a flag in Des Moines follows the company’s recent announcement that it will sell its seed production and distribution business to another Beijing company, in a deal worth about $60 million.

Both moves are part of a larger transition for Origin. Instead of competing with other seed production companies, Origin wants to make customers out of them by selling germplasm — or seed genetics — and other technologies.

"They don't want to sell seeds to farmers," Hart said. "They want to sell seed genetics to companies."

Niebur sees potential for growth in China, where seed production is fragmented among many companies, and in the U.S. where Origin hopes to serve specialty markets such as organic farmers.

He wants the company to operate more like a technology startup than an agriculture firm.

“Ag is not waiting for another seed company,” he said. “It’s waiting for an innovative company that challenges the status quo and really solves problems in a new way.”

Before being hired by Origin in April, Niebur worked for Dupont Pioneer for more than 30 years, most recently as vice president and general manager of the company’s operations in China and east Asia. He is an Iowa State University graduate and lived in Des Moines for several stints during his career with Dupont Pioneer.

Iowan tapped to lead Real Simple magazine

Des Moines native and former Register intern Leslie Yazel has been named editor in chief of the lifestyle magazine and website of Real Simple.

Before joining Real Simple, Yazel served as the director of editorial content for Cosmopolitan and previously was deputy editor of the Wall Street Journal, according to AdWeek.

Yazel attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and the University of Iowa. As a reporting intern for The Register in 1992 and 1993, she covered the type of odd stories often tossed to interns, like the felling of a beloved maple tree in West Branch and the kerfuffle that ensued after a public access channel in Iowa City accidentally aired an adult movie.

Real Simple, a 16-year-old brand, is owned by Time Inc., whose other brands include Time, Sports Illustrated, People and Food & Wine.

Kennedy takes helm at Flynnn Wright

Local advertising firm Flynn Wright has shuffled its top management.

Aaron Kennedy has been promoted to president, Andy Flynn has transitioned from president and CEO to solely CEO and Paul Schlueter has been promoted to executive vice president. The three make up the ownership group of Flynn Wright.

Kennedy has been with Flynn Wright for 23 years, most recently as executive vice president. He is the first person outside the Flynn family to serve as president of the firm, which was founded by Pete Flynn Sr. in 1984.

“Aaron’s role will now continue to guide the direction and vision of our agency as well as our ongoing service and work for our clients,” Mara White, the firm’s spokesperson said.

Brookings features Des Moines in global cities report

The Brookings Institution gave Des Moines a nod in its latest report on global cities.

The Washington-based think tank used Des Moines as a primary example of small cities competing on a global stage in its report titled “The Making of Global Cities: Stories from the Global Cities Exchange.”

The report notes Des Moines’ Insurance Startup Accelerator and the Global Insurance Symposium, two initiatives local business leaders have pushed to further cement the city’s place as a finance and insurance hub.

For several years, Des Moines has participated in the Global Cities Exchange, Brookings' program aimed at helping small and mid-sized cities increase exports and attract investment from foreign countries.

Policy experts at Brookings have said metro Des Moines should look for opportunities to export not only goods like corn, tires and tractors, but also services like insurance, financial planning and engineering work.

Birthdays

• Oct. 9:  Neil Harl, Iowa State University distinguished professor of agriculture, emeritus, 83.
• Oct. 10: Gerry Neugent, CEO of Knapp Properties, 65; Jack Rehm, retired Meredith Corp. chairman, 84.
• Oct. 11: Brenda Scarpino, co-owner of Que Sera in Valley Junction, 65.
• Oct. 12: Robert Plunk, former president of Preferred Risk Mutual Life Insurance, 84; Edgar Hansell, attorney at Nyemaster Goode and chair of the Des Moines airport board, 79.
• Oct. 13: Joanna Ahrold Reynolds, of the Reynolds & Reynolds specialty insurance agency, 76.
• Oct. 14: Tom Hadden, West Des Moines city manager, 63.