PI AgSciences Taps Bayer Vets for North American Leadership Push

ST. LOUIS, MO – January 19, 2026 – PI AgSciences, the global agriculture business of PI Industries, has signaled a major strategic offensive in the North American market with the appointment of two long-serving veterans from agricultural giant Monsanto/Bayer to its executive team. Wes Hays has been named North America Commercial Lead, and Ryan Inkley will step in as Chief Financial Officer. The move, coupled with the establishment of the company's new global headquarters in St. Louis, underscores a calculated effort to challenge established players and accelerate growth in the lucrative agricultural biologicals and crop protection sectors.

This strategic repositioning follows PI Industries' August 2024 acquisition of North Carolina-based Plant Health Care Inc., a specialist in disease-resistant plant materials, which was subsequently rebranded to form PI AgSciences. The new leadership appointments represent the next phase of this expansion, leveraging deep industry expertise to build out a formidable commercial and financial infrastructure in the heart of American agriculture.

A Power Play for Market Share

The selection of Hays and Inkley is a clear statement of intent. Both bring decades of experience from Monsanto and its successor, Bayer, a titan of the industry. Wes Hays, who takes charge of building the North American sales team, has been with PI AgSciences since August of last year, previously serving as the Global Marketing Lead for Biologicals. His 26-year career includes a 13-year tenure at Monsanto/Bayer where he held pivotal roles such as North America Soybean Business Lead and Western Illinois Business Unit Lead.

His new mandate is to drive the commercial success of PI AgSciences' portfolio, with a special focus on products emerging from its proprietary PREtech platform, which the company describes as revolutionary. Jagresh Rana, CEO of PI AgSciences, lauded Hays's rapid impact. "In the 5 months Wes has been at PI, he's already had a tremendous, positive impact," Rana stated. "His leadership and experience are just what this organization needs to lead it into the future."

Joining him is Ryan Inkley, who will now steer the company's financial operations as CFO. Inkley’s resume includes over 23 years in finance leadership, with 17 of those spent at Monsanto/Bayer. His expertise spans accounting, commercial finance, strategic planning, and M&A, providing PI AgSciences with the financial acuity needed to navigate a competitive landscape and fuel its expansion. Rana expressed similar enthusiasm for Inkley's appointment, noting, "His financial acuity, understanding of global ag business and leadership ability will be a great asset for our team."

By poaching top-tier talent from an industry leader, PI AgSciences is not just acquiring experience; it is strategically embedding a deep understanding of the market, competitor strategies, and the North American farmer into its own operational DNA.

St. Louis: The Strategic Heart of Ag-Tech

The decision to anchor these new leaders and the company's global headquarters in St. Louis is as strategic as the hires themselves. The city is not merely a central geographic location; it is the epicenter of a thriving ag-tech ecosystem. St. Louis boasts the world's highest concentration of plant science PhDs and is home to world-renowned research institutions like the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and innovation hubs like the 39 North Agtech Innovation District, where the PI AgSciences team is currently based.

This ecosystem provides an unparalleled talent pool and a collaborative environment essential for a company focused on innovation. Furthermore, its location within a 500-mile radius of over half of all U.S. agricultural production, including 80% of the nation's corn and soybean output, offers direct access to its primary customer base. The presence of other major agricultural players, including Bayer CropScience, and key industry groups like the National Corn Growers Association, creates a powerful network effect that PI AgSciences is poised to leverage.

This move reinforces St. Louis's reputation as a global hub for agricultural leadership and innovation. For PI AgSciences, it provides a critical link between cutting-edge research and the practical realities of the American farming community, a connection vital for developing and marketing effective solutions.

Navigating a Competitive Biologicals Market

Hays and Inkley are tasked with carving out a significant share of the rapidly expanding North American agricultural biologicals market. Valued at over USD 5.4 billion in 2024, this market is projected to nearly double to USD 9.5 billion by 2033, driven by increasing demand for sustainable farming practices and organic produce. This growth has attracted intense competition from global giants like Bayer AG, BASF SE, Syngenta Group, and Corteva Agriscience, as well as specialized biologicals firms.

PI AgSciences' success will hinge on its ability to differentiate its offerings. The company is betting heavily on its PREtech platform, though public details about the technology and its specific products remain scarce. This lack of information creates an air of anticipation around the platform, positioning it as a key element of the company's future value proposition. The ability of Hays's commercial team to translate this touted 'revolutionary' technology into tangible benefits for farmers will be the ultimate test.

With a parent company in PI Industries boasting over 80 years of history and approximately US$1 billion in revenue, PI AgSciences has the financial backing and global footprint to compete. By combining this stability with fresh, aggressive leadership and a strategic headquarters in America's agricultural heartland, the company is making a bold declaration that it intends to be a dominant force in the future of farming.