Kelly Fleming

Global Consumer Strategy & Communications Lead at Monsanto Company

Summary
Capable business professional with 20 years of proven experience in corporate strategy, business development,
marketing, project management, manufacturing and strategic planning. Extensive experience leading through
influence, in a matrix environment, across functional and geographic boundaries. Wide-ranging commercial
experience in new product launch, pre-launch development, branding, pricing and product management for
agricultural technologies, including improved seed, biotechnology traits and crop protection/biologicals.
Results-oriented, analytical, with strong interpersonal skills.
Experience
Global Consumer Strategy & Communications Lead at Monsanto Company
March 2014 - Present (4 months)
President, Board of Trustees at The Wilson School
2010 - Present (4 years)
Commercial Development Director, Biologicals at Monsanto
March 2012 - February 2014 (2 years)
Reporting to the Corporate Strategy R&D investment strategy lead, I provide commercial development and
product management leadership for Monsantos biological technology platform, BioDirect.
3 recommendations available upon request
Patroness at National Charity League
2013 - 2013 (less than a year)
Patroness at National Charity League
2013 - 2013 (less than a year)
Global Marketing Lead, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Division at Monsanto
August 2009 - February 2012 (2 years 7 months)
Reported to the Global Strategy & Product Management Director. I provided strategic marketing leadership
and direction for our Vegetable Seed Business, to profitably serve the needs of vegetable growers in over 160
countries.
Key duties included:
Developed a common vision for how to be the best vegetable seed company in the eyes of our grower
customers and measuring our success.
Provided leadership in brand strategy, pricing strategy and new product introduction. Facilitated a global
approach where appropriate and encourage the sharing of best practices among regional marketing teams
Selected, recruited and retained top talent within the marketing function
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Key accomplishments include:
Led a global, multi-functional team to develop and roll out a brand strategy for the Seminis and De Ruiter
vegetable seed brands.
Launched Performance Series master trait brand for the vegetable seed business to facilitate increased value
capture for our breeding and biotech trait portfolio.
7 recommendations available upon request
Global Product Manager, Large Seeds at Monsanto
February 2007 - August 2009 (2 years 7 months)
Reported to the Global Product Director and provided global oversight and strategic management of $100M+
revenue Large Seed business.
Key duties included:
Developed and implemented strategic plan (growth, resources, focus, etc.) for Sweet Corn, Pea, Garden
Bean, Dry Bean and Okra seed business.
Led multi-functional, Global Crop Team and provide direction to regional crop teams for the Americas,
Asia and Europe.
Ensured operational excellence in portfolio management, LRP/strategic plan development, production
planning and other business processes. Link regional efforts to overall global strategy and goals.
Key accomplishments include:
Exceeded global financial target for 2007 and ended 2008 fiscal year at 116% of budget.
Completed product portfolio strategy for Large Seeds including a robust analysis of each crop at the product
line level, market segmentation, profitability analysis and recommendations for breeding, TD and commercial
focus.
Successfully designed and implemented a comprehensive approach to the Seminis LRP for the 2008
exercise allowing the business to view sales and profitability at the MCT level within each crop. This led to
ability for Seminis middle and upper management to make informed decisions about resource allocation in
the business.
Led the GPMs in development of new product hierarchy and classification system for all crops that better
and more accurately defines product lines.
Marketing and Product Development Lead, Monsanto Choice Genetics at Monsanto
2005 - January 2007 (2 years)
Provided strategic business and marketing leadership for Monsantos swine genetics division.
Key duties included:
Provided strategic input on all key business decisions as a member of the Monsanto Choice Genetics
Leadership Team.
Developed annual and long range product sales and EBIT targets for MCG
Conducted analysis and implementation plans to successfully optimize EBIT through value sharing pricing
strategies
Selected, recruited and retained top talent within the marketing group
Enabled MCGs sales organization by providing effective product promotions and sales tools
Set and achieved annual SGA targets for the marketing function
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Developed and refined distribution strategies
Established relationships with key customers and other key stakeholders in the swine industry.
Defined product and service offerings
Developed product portfolio strategy and managed pre-launch projects
Key accomplishments included:
Created marketing process and overall marketing orientation for the business
Implemented a value-share pricing approach and 20% increase in female line royalty pricing, leading to a
30% increase in EBIT.
Led an effort to create a market segmentation strategy and reorient product portfolio accordingly.
Significantly upgraded quality of MCG presence at key industry events, including a new approach for our
annual customer meeting that expanded attendance by 150%
U.S. Soybean Food Traits Product Management Lead at Monsanto
2004 - 2005 (1 year)
Business lead responsible for the introduction of food traits in soybeans.
Key duties included:
Commercial representation for negotiation of soybean processor agreements.
Coordination of key marketing activities for launch including branding and pricing.
Development of operational plan with U.S. Customer Service, U.S. Branded Seed Operations, Corn States
Operations, Asgrow# Product Management, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Field Sales, Trait
Marketing and Stewardship.
Ongoing refinement of commercial approach.
Key accomplishments include:
Development of VISTIVE# umbrella brand for improved soybean oil traits and associated trademark and
tagline.
Successful 2005 U.S launch of VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans on over 100,000 acres representing a
sold out position.
Creation of trait licensing strategy for VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans to facilitate rapid expansion of the
trait for 2006
Product Management Lead, Wheat, North America at Monsanto
2003 - 2004 (1 year)
U.S. Seed & Biotechnology Trait Marketing Manager at Monsanto
2001 - 2003 (2 years)
YieldGard Rootworm# Launch Team Lead at Monsanto
1999 - 2001 (2 years)
Seed & Trait Market Analyst at Monsanto
1996 - 1999 (3 years)
Manufacturing Supervisor, L-Aspartic Acid at Monsanto
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1994 - 1996 (2 years)
Process Engineer at Monsanto
1992 - 1994 (2 years)
Skills & Expertise
Biotechnology
Commercialization
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Product Development
Agriculture
Crop Protection
Product Management
Strategic Planning
Market Analysis
Business Strategy
Product Launch
Competitive Analysis
Agribusiness
Strategy
Project Management
Marketing Strategy
Product Marketing
Business Development
Marketing
Global Marketing
Leadership
Marketing Management
Brand Development Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Management
Marketing Communications
Corn
Business Planning
International Business
Start-ups
Pricing
Agrochemicals
Genomics
Team Leadership
Technology Transfer
Genetics
R&D
Negotiation
Budgets
Market Research
Pharmaceutical Industry
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Market Development
Sales Management
Team Building
Forecasting
Vegetables
Food
Lifesciences
New Business Development
Change Management
Education
Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School
MBA, 1993 - 1996
Washington University in St. Louis
B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1988 - 1992
Honors and Awards
Delivering the Difference for Our Customers Award for Innovation & Creativity, 2011
United Way Women's Leadership Giving Initiative, Monsanto LIFT Program Mentor 2006 - 2008, 2004
Monsanto Pledge Award Winner for the introduction of VISTIVE soybeans, Monsanto Global Leadership
Exchange participant 1999, YWCA Certificate of Leadership 1999
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Kelly Fleming
Global Consumer Strategy & Communications Lead at Monsanto Company
10 people have recommended Kelly
"Kelly is a detail-oriented, dedicated, and goal driven employee. She is great in her role as Commercial
Development Director. I was very impressed with her ability to present information, listen to the input of
others, and gain consensus in group settings. I would gladly work with Kelly again."
Allison Marder, Operations Lead, Growth Ventures Team in Strategy, Monsanto, worked directly with
Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly is wonderful colleague who drives for the best outcome for project goals and the overall business. She
is strong team player and an incredibly positive thinker and motivator. Kelly does an great job of collecting
input, analyzing the options and choosing a path forward. She's quick to drive to the root of a challenge and
identify the key stakeholders who need to be consulted and informed. She taught me the meaning of "bringing
others along on the journey"."
Steven Reiser, BioDirect Development Lead, Monsanto, worked directly with Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly is outstanding in her role as Commercial Development lead, and has done great work in driving the
goals around the projects with which she is associated. I have learned a lot about the business through
working with her, she is always ready to help others in the team and is an excellent teammate."
Allen Christian, Biologicals Manufacturing Lead, Monsanto, worked directly with Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly has strong strategy and analytical skills and broad business acumen"
Jennifer Kruyne, Senior Financial Analyst, Monsanto, worked directly with Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly is professional, passionate about her work and dedicated to delivering results. She is an agile team
player and an excellent communicator. Kelly's effective thought leadership provides her the unique ability to
bring out the best in the people she works with. I have a lot of respect for Kelly and I recommend her highly."
Tanya Alfonso, West EMEA Marketing Director, Monsanto, worked directly with Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly had shown 5S, Sharp, Smart, Straight, Stamina and Speed when we worked together on a series of
Global initiatives iin Strategy building and implementation in Monsanto Vegetable Division. I admire, in
particular, her insight coming from her vast experience as well as from her natural 6th sense, and she did not
hesitate addressing her opinions in a difficult environment. Kelly always tried doing right things. In addition,
Kelly was one of a few US colleagues who showed pure curiosity to understand diversity of cultures outside
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US, that helped a lot for International colleagues to work very efficiently with US Global team. It was a
fantastic and memorable period that I have ever had in my carreer. I am very confident that she will be
continuously successful and people love to work with her."
Hiroshi Okumura, Strategy & Marketing Lead, Asia Pacific Region, Monsanto (Singapore), worked with
Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly was an ideal manager who clearly outlined her expectations for me as a direct report. With Kelly, you
always know where you stand, and you are ALWAYS armed with the resources to be successful."
Edward J., Business Development Associate, Monsanto, reported to Kelly at Monsanto
"I worked for Kelly for almost 2 years, and she is one of the strongest talents I've witnessed in business. Kelly
is driven, highly intelligent, strategic, passionate, and composed. She can multi-task like I've never seen, all
while being on top of her game with multiple direct reports while leading our global marketing efforts for a
nearly $1B industry. Kelly is honest, funny, articulate and someone I'd double my bet on."
Kathleen M., Global Marketing Manager, Monsanto, reported to Kelly at Monsanto
"Kelly is one of the few people that I know who have the ability to balance problem solving skills with
long-term strategy vision and proactive optimistic thinking. Ive been interacting with her in several positions
during the last six years at Monsanto and she has proven to deliver results while leading and developing
several teams worldwide. In her role as Global Marketing Lead, Kelly successfully re-branded our vegetable
business consolidating a very complex legacy of many brands under two clearly defined and compelling ones.
She also possesses great interpersonal skills and she is always available to provide constructive feedback.
Kelly would be a great asset in any organization. I would be honored to work with her again in the future."
Ernesto La Red, MBA, Performance Series Sweet Corn Launch Lead, Monsanto, managed Kelly
indirectly at Monsanto
"Kelly and I were colleagues for three years within the Global Product Management and Marketing
department. She immediately impressed me with her ability to lead diverse cross functional teams, always
staying on-time, on-target, and under budget. She was a key leader for Monsanto's ability to integrate multiple
acquired companies into one cohesive vegetable business. Kelly's tireless work and leadership has delivered
the two major brands that will be used by Monsanto Vegetable going forward. Kelly has also mentored many
future leaders of the business. Kelly is visionary leader within Monsanto and would be an asset to any
organization."
Rich Gilles MBA, PMP, Global Strategic Business Operations Lead; Project
Management, Monsanto, worked directly with Kelly at Monsanto
Contact Kelly on LinkedIn
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