ArborGen Welcomes Greg Mann as General Manager Australasia Operations

SUMMERVILLE, S.C., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- ArborGen, a world leading tree improvement and production company, announces that Greg Mann will join the organization on April 6 as general manager of ArborGen Australasia. In this role, Mann will oversee ArborGen New Zealand and Australia operations.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100311/DC69257 )

Mann comes to ArborGen with more than 15 years of business and science experience. Most recently he was the commercial general manager at The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, a New Zealand science company specializing in elite cultivar development, sustainable production systems and bioprotection.  In this role, he led the team responsible for the commercialization of technology and intellectual property. Prior to that he held national sales manager and general manager positions at Southward Engineering Company Limited, New Zealand's largest manufacturer of tubular steel products and a major supplier of components for the Australasian automotive industry.  Mann began his career in sales management with the specialty chemicals company W.R. Grace Limited in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Greg is a tremendous addition to the ArborGen team as he brings a wealth of experience in the development and commercialization of very technical products," says Barbara Wells, president and chief executive officer of ArborGen. "Greg will be a member of the ArborGen executive team and will oversee our Australasian research and development, commercial production, and sales and marketing programs, providing forest landowners access to the rich and broad portfolio of ArborGen superior Radiata Pine and Eucalyptus products."

Mann has a bachelor of science (honors) degree from Victoria University, Wellington.

About ArborGen, LLC

ArborGen is a leader in tree improvement and the commercial production of trees. We are dedicated to helping the global forest industry meet the growing demand for wood, pulp & paper, and energy in a more productive and sustainable way. Enabling more wood to be grown on less land helps conserve the world's native forests in all their beauty, diversity and complexity. With one of the world's most extensive tree germplasm resources, ArborGen uses both traditional breeding and advanced genetic technologies, to discover and produce high yield seedlings for our customers, allowing our customers to significantly increase the productivity of their forests and manufacturing processes. Our mission is to deliver superior performing trees through innovative science and world class customer service -- every tree, every time. For more information, please visit www.arborgen.com

SOURCE ArborGen, LLC