Dan Hennessy Joins Meristem as CFO to Drive Growth

By Andi Anderson

Meristem Crop Performance has appointed Dan Hennessy as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With extensive experience in finance, data analytics, and operations, Hennessy will play a key role in strengthening Meristem’s efforts to help farmers improve productivity and efficiency.

Hennessy has a strong background in agribusiness. Before joining Meristem, he spent 18 years at Land O’Lakes, where he held leadership roles in crop protection, turf products, and animal nutrition.

He also worked as CFO and later CEO of Villa Crop Protection in South Africa and led an animal feed start-up in Kenya. His diverse experience has equipped him with the skills to drive financial growth and operational efficiency in the agricultural sector.

Meristem Founder and CEO Mitch Eviston expressed excitement about Hennessy’s appointment, highlighting his ability to scale business operations effectively.

Hennessy, in turn, shared his enthusiasm for supporting Meristem’s mission of helping farmers raise more bushels at lower costs. He emphasized the importance of using financial management and data analytics to optimize farm success.

Hennessy’s journey in agriculture began in North Dakota, where his family had deep farming roots. He later pursued a marketing degree from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul and an MBA in finance from the University of St. Thomas.

His early career included financial roles at Honeywell and a consumer electronics company before he transitioned back to agriculture.

Hennessy sees great potential in leveraging global insights, particularly in biologicals, to accelerate innovation. He is eager to contribute to Meristem’s mission of reducing waste in farm input distribution and strengthening the company’s dealer network.

With a commitment to supporting American farmers, Hennessy looks forward to making a meaningful impact at Meristem Crop Performance, ensuring that growers and dealers benefit from the latest advancements in agricultural solutions.

Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic