Saskatoon-based Nutrien has announced Mayo Schmidt has left his position as president and CEO of the crop input and services company.

Executive vice president of potash, Ken Seitz, has been named the company’s interim CEO.

Seitz brings extensive global leadership experience in the agriculture and mining sectors.

Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services.

Board chair Russ Girling says Nutrien delivered exceptional results in 2021 and is well positioned to continue strong momentum in 2022.

Seitz is the former president of Canpotex, with a bachelor of science in agriculture and bachelor of engineering.

Schmidt leaves Nutrien after just 8 months on the job.

Schmidt is the former CEO of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, which transformed into Viterra and was bought by Glencore about 10 years ago.

Nutrien has seen fertilizer prices soar to repeated record highs over the last few months on numerous problems, including an energy pinch in Europe, unexpected plant closures and export halts by major countries.
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