Heiri Gugger, PhD

Managing DirectorRaleigh, NC

Areas of Expertise

Biotechnology, Crop Inputs, Production, Start-Up Organizations

About

Heiri is based in the agriculture and bioscience hub of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Involved in hundreds of executive placements across the industry since joining Kincannon & Reed in 2012, Heiri brings his broad network and executive experience from his roles as CEO in several start-up opportunities, including serving as CEO of Paradigm Genetics and his role as President of Syngenta Crop Protection, to each search engagement.

Fluent in German, English, and French, he holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Bern, Switzerland and was a postdoctoral fellow with IBM’s Research Division in San Jose, California.

Recent Placements & Food for Thought

The leaders we place prove the quality of our work. The knowledge of our experts provides the insight you need to attract the right candidates.

Kincannon & Reed Promotes Caroline Petit to Director, APAC

Kincannon & Reed is pleased to announce the promotion of Caroline Petit to Director, APAC. In her new role, Caroline will…

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The Role of Cross-Functional Experience in Building Executive-Ready Leaders

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Why Experience Alone Stops Working at the Enterprise Level

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Kincannon & Reed Announces Kelly Griffin as Chief Operating Officer

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What Top Executive Candidates Evaluate Before Joining a Leadership Team

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RISE partners with K&R on Executive Director Search

As Released by RISE RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® announces the hiring of its next leader Scott Herndon, who…

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Sustaining High Performance Through Leadership Alignment

High performance is something to be protected, not taken for granted. Across food and agriculture, many organizations are delivering strong results…

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Kincannon & Reed Welcomes Jon Lowe as Managing Director

Kincannon & Reed, a leading executive search and leadership development firm exclusively serving organizations across the global food and agriculture value…

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Building for What’s Next: Leadership Development and Succession in Agribusiness

By Managing Directors Aaron Locker and Heiri Gugger Coming out of this year’s CLA/CPDA Annual Meeting, what stood out most to…

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From Crisis to Clarity: Making Leadership a Strategic Priority in Ag

By Managing Director Aaron Locker | Originally Published by Seed World The leadership conversation in agriculture has shifted. It’s no longer…

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Employee Engagement: Why It Matters More Than Ever for Food & Ag Leaders

Employee engagement is more than a corporate buzzword; it’s a competitive advantage. Engaged employees aren’t just satisfied, they’re emotionally invested in…

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K&R Places VP Global Breeding at Driscoll’s

Global berry supplier, Driscoll’s, has appointed Mourad Abdennadher as Vice President of Global Breeding. Abdennadher is a global, technologically focused executive…

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2025 Mid Year Global Talent Trends & Implications

K&R EXPERIENCE As we move into the second half of 2025, executive hiring in food and ag continues to shift and…

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Is Your Executive Value Proposition Attracting Top Talent in Food & Agriculture?

Top executives in food and agriculture aren’t just looking for a compelling job description or competitive compensation. They want purpose, strategic…

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The First 100 Days: Reframing Executive Onboarding to Accelerate Impact and Retention

The moment a senior leader accepts an offer, most organizations breathe a sigh of relief. The hard part—the search—is over. But…

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Closing the Gap: Future-Proofing Leadership in Food & Ag

The senior leadership gap in food and agriculture isn’t just a distant concern; it’s already here. As these industries face the…

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The AI-Powered Leader: Essential Strategies for the New Era

The Adaptive Leader: Thriving in an AI-Driven World AI is a strategic imperative, rapidly reshaping decision-making, streamlining operations, and addressing complex…

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Osborne Assumes Chairman Role with K&R

Managing Partner, Phillip Osborne will assume the role of Chairman of the Board for Kincannon & Reed. Osborne has been a partner…

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