Top 20 AgriTech Recruiters Matching Talent with Innovation
Discover the leading professionals in AgriTech recruitment, recognized for their exceptional ability to connect top talent with the sector’s most innovative companies. ↓
The agricultural industry is evolving, driven by innovation in food production and sustainability. Top AgriTech recruiters are key to this progress, connecting expert talent – from agtech engineers to crop scientists – with the roles shaping the future of farming.
Below is an updated and ranked list of the top AgriTech recruiters, selected for their expertise, influence, and commitment to advancing talent in this rapidly growing field.
- Sam Clayton
- Mike Ruane
- Lori Culler
- Swati Chaudhary
- Mark Waschek
- Kelli McDougall
- Stephanie Liska
- Rebekah Shields
- Dr. Ray Johnson
- Nichole Ring
- Jon Leafstedt
- Tim Hammerich
- Rhonda Caughlin Werner
- Eric Spell
- Jeff Chaponick
- Guy Moreton
- Dave Allen
- Max MacGillivray
- Joep Maussen
- Kayleigh Bottomley
Below we provide more detailed profiles of each recruiter.
Sam Clayton
Nationality: British
Sam is the Founder of AgRecruit, a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to the AgriTech, AgriFood, and biotech sectors.
With a talent acquisition career covering EMEA and North America, he focuses on placing professionals in agritech, foodtech, alt-protein, and crop science roles. Sam has a background in both agriculture and technology, giving him a deep understanding of the disruptive ag scene. As an independent recruiter, he is known for his network in agrifood innovation and for actively sharing industry insights. His public presence on LinkedIn reflects consistent engagement with agritech hiring trends and thought leadership.
- LinkedIn: Sam Clayton
Mike Ruane
Agritech is not just about technology, it’s about solving real-world problems with sustainable solutions. It’s about connecting the right talent to innovative ideas that will change the way we farm and feed the world.
Nationality: American
Mike is Principal & Lead Recruiter at Mac & Fulton Talent Partners (M&F Talent), a boutique search firm specializing in agriculture, controlled-environment ag (CEA), and food production recruiting.
He co-founded M&F Talent in 2015 and has served as Director of Sales & Recruiting, helping agritech companies identify top talent in areas like horticultural engineering and hydroponics. With over a decade of recruitment experience in niche technical fields, Mike is known for his detailed, consultative approach to matching candidates with roles. He has been featured in agritech industry interviews for his insights on hiring challenges and trends in CEA and agtech.
Mike actively shares hiring tips and job opportunities on LinkedIn, establishing himself as a go-to recruiter for modern agriculture and agtech talent.
- LinkedIn: Mike Ruane
Lori Culler
Nationality: American
Lori is the Founder and Owner of AgHires, a leading U.S. agricultural recruitment firm and job board established in 2014. Growing up on her family’s farm, Lori combined firsthand ag experience with recruiting expertise to build AgHires, which serves agribusinesses across the full ag supply chain.
She is widely recognized for providing education to employers on attracting and retaining ag talent, and for advocating diversification of hiring in agriculture. With 10+ years in agritech and agribusiness recruiting, Lori has become an influential voice at industry conferences (like Indoor Ag-Con) and through media, discussing workforce trends and talent strategies.
Her active social media presence, especially on LinkedIn, offers career advice and hiring insights, making her a public-facing influencer in agritech talent acquisition.
- LinkedIn: Lori Culler
Swati Chaudhary
Talent acquisition is not just a job; it’s an art. It’s about understanding the culture, vision, and potential of both the company and the candidate to create a lasting partnership that drives growth.
Nationality: Indian
Swati is a Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., one of India’s leading agri-solutions companies. Based in Gurgaon, Swati has 8+ years of experience in talent acquisition and has been with Dhanuka since 2015, playing a key role in scaling the firm’s workforce.
She designs and executes recruiting strategies to bring in professionals ranging from agricultural engineers and crop scientists to sales and marketing talent in agtech. Swati is known for modernizing Dhanuka’s hiring processes – incorporating social media recruitment and employer branding (aligned with UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, which she supports). She is also active in mentoring young candidates, having been featured in leadership insight series where she describes talent acquisition as an “art”.
- LinkedIn: Swati Chaudhary
Mark Waschek
Nationality: American
Mark is the President of Ag1Source (part of the Integra Search Partners), overseeing one of the largest teams of agriculture recruiters in North America. Having been with Ag1Source since the mid-2000s, Mark previously led the agronomy and seed recruiting practice, and he personally has placed countless agronomists, precision ag specialists, and agtech sales managers over his career.
Now as President, he focuses on strategy, client relationships, and ensuring Ag1Source’s recruiting processes deliver top talent efficiently. Mark’s own roots trace back to a family farm in Minnesota, plus a background in ag sales, lending him credibility with both candidates and hiring managers. He often shares industry hiring outlooks in ag media (e.g., commenting on trends in AgriMarketing magazine) and is active in groups like the American Seed Trade Association.
- LinkedIn: Mark Waschek
Kelli McDougall
Nationality: Australian
Kelli is the Managing Director of Agri Talent, a prominent agriculture and agritech recruitment agency based in Australia. With a background in agribusiness, she leads a team connecting Australian agritech companies and farms with professionals in agronomy, agribusiness, and agtech roles.
Kelli has been instrumental in Agri Talent’s growth and was recognized for her leadership throughout 2024, reflecting on numerous successful client and candidate matches. She frequently shares advice on agricultural careers and hiring, engaging a LinkedIn community around talent trends in agriculture. Her visibility as an industry recruiter in Australia – including participation in ag conferences and university career events – has made her a key influencer in agritech talent circles in the region.
- LinkedIn: Kelli McDougall
Stephanie Liska
Nationality: American
Stephanie is President of Kincannon & Reed, a global executive search firm for food and agribusiness, and one of the highest-ranking women in agritech recruiting. Appointed President in 2024, Stephanie has been an integral part of Kincannon & Reed’s leadership team, driving marketing and business development initiatives.
She brings 30+ years of experience across agriculture and food industries, including two decades as President & CEO of Beck Ag, a consulting firm, before joining K&R. Stephanie’s diverse background (covering sales, marketing, and management in ag inputs and animal health) gives her a vast network and insight into the talent needs of agritech companies. As President, she emphasizes aligning the right leadership with organizations to secure the future of food and ag. Stephanie is a frequent speaker on women’s leadership in ag and on fostering innovative company cultures.
- LinkedIn: Stephanie Liska
Rebekah Shields
Nationality: British
Rebekah is the Managing Director of Agricultural Recruitment Specialists (ARS) in the UK. She co-leads this international award-winning recruiting firm, which since 2012 has focused on agriculture, farming, food production, and horticulture placements.
Rebekah is a passionate advocate for the farming community and ag careers, hosting webinars and podcasts to highlight industry opportunities. With her recruiting experience spanning farm management to agtech sales roles, she has placed candidates across Europe and beyond. Rebekah’s impact includes not only successful hires for agritech startups and traditional ag firms, but also public outreach – she often discusses rural talent challenges and promotes agriculture as an exciting career path.
She maintains an active LinkedIn presence, sharing ARS’s job posts and her insights on agricultural employment trends.
- LinkedIn: Rebekah Shields
Dr. Ray Johnson
Nationality: Australian
Ray is Managing Director of Agricultural Appointments in Australia, one of the country’s oldest agribusiness recruiting firms. A seasoned agribusiness leader and consultant, Ray has decades of experience in agritech, agribusiness, and agri-research recruitment.
Under his leadership, AA (founded 1979) has connected numerous senior executives and specialists to roles in agtech startups, agribusiness companies, and research organizations. Ray frequently contributes to industry media on ag talent issues – for example, warning of agriculture’s talent shortages and advocating strategies to attract young professionals. Highly visible in Australia’s agriculture sector, he’s known for combining academic insight (as a Ph.D.) with practical recruiting skill.
Ray’s professional network on LinkedIn and involvement in ag forums have solidified his status as a thought leader in agritech recruitment.
- LinkedIn: Dr. Ray Johnson
Nichole Ring
Nationality: American
Nichole is a Talent Acquisition Partner at Syngenta, where she specializes in recruiting for Syngenta’s seeds business and agritech initiatives. Often referred to by her maiden name Nichole Licht, she has become a prominent advocate for agricultural careers within a large global agriscience company.
Nichole has a farm background and a degree in Crop Sciences, which help her relate to candidates for roles like plant scientists, seed sales, and digital ag specialists. At Syngenta, she has recruited talent from entry-level to senior managers, and she actively promotes the company’s mission and culture to prospective hires. Nichole is known publicly for her LinkedIn posts that blend personal agriculture experiences with talent insights – for instance, she wrote a reflective “LinkedIn Rewind” post about balancing motherhood with recruiting for the farming industry, which resonated widely.
- LinkedIn: Nichole Ring
Jon Leafstedt
Nationality: American
Jon is a Managing Partner at Kincannon & Reed, a global executive search firm exclusively serving food, agribusiness, and agritech companies. With over 15 years at Kincannon & Reed, Jon has led more than 200 executive searches in agriculture and biotech.
He draws on prior agribusiness management experience to advise industry-leading clients (from crop input giants to agtech startups) on securing transformational leaders. Jon’s expertise in recruiting C-suite and senior talent was recognized by Forbes, which listed Kincannon & Reed among “America’s Best Executive Recruiting” firms. He often speaks about ag leadership trends and has been quoted in SeedWorld and AgriMarketing on the evolving talent landscape.
Active on LinkedIn, Jon shares career advice and industry news, making him a respected public voice in agribusiness and agritech executive recruitment.
- LinkedIn: Jon Leafstedt
Tim Hammerich
Nationality: American
Tim is an independent agritech career influencer, recruiter, and founder of AgGrad. A former agribusiness recruiter (and one-time Texas manager for Agri-Associates), Tim launched AgGrad in 2016 to connect students and young professionals with careers in agriculture and agtech.
He is also the host of the popular “Future of Agriculture” podcast, where he interviews innovators and leaders in agtech, thus staying at the forefront of industry talent needs. Tim’s background as a commodity trader and FFA national president gives him unique perspective on both production ag and agtech startups. As a public-facing figure, he actively shares job opportunities, career tips, and industry analysis on social media.
His engaging online presence (including a newsletter and regular posts on Twitter/X) has made him a go-to advisor for agritech talent development and a mentor figure to many entering the field.
- LinkedIn: Tim Hammerich
- X (Twitter): @timhammerich
Rhonda Caughlin Werner
Nationality: American
Rhonda is the Director of People & Culture and a Recruiting Consultant at Ag1Source, a top agricultural executive recruiting firm in the U.S.. With over 18 years at Ag1Source, Rhonda has become a linchpin of the organization’s success and culture. She specializes in recruiting for agronomy, seed, and ag tech roles across the southern United States, and also leads internal training and development for the Ag1Source team.
Rhonda is highly regarded for her integrity, deep agronomic knowledge, and mentorship of both candidates and junior recruiters. On LinkedIn, she has over 8,000 followers and frequently posts job openings, career tips, and reflections on work-life balance in ag recruitment. Clients and colleagues praise Rhonda’s dedication and personalized approach – she’s been with Ag1Source since it was a “small office in Hesston, KS,” now guiding its growth as part of the larger Integra Partners network.
Her consistent public engagement and reputation for results make Rhonda a standout agritech recruiting professional.
- LinkedIn: Rhonda Caughlin Werner
Eric Spell
Nationality: American
Eric is the co-founder and former President of AgCareers, North America’s leading agriculture job board and recruitment service. With 15+ years in agribusiness recruiting and HR services, Eric grew AgCareers from its 1997 inception into a major platform connecting agritech and ag employers with talent.
Under his leadership, AgCareers launched initiatives like the annual agribusiness HR review and diversity recruiting workshops, bolstering the ag sector’s hiring practices. In recent years, Eric joined Charles Aris Executive Search as a practice leader specializing in agriculture and food production, further extending his recruiting influence. He is a prolific speaker and writer on ag talent strategy, contributing to AgCareers’ Talent Harvest blog and advising both farm employers and agritech startups on recruitment.
Eric maintains an active LinkedIn profile and continues to shape the conversation around agricultural talent pipelines and leadership hiring.
- LinkedIn: Eric Spell
Jeff Chaponick
Nationality: American
Jeff is the Founder and CEO of MAC Executive Recruiters, a global search firm he established in 2002 after a successful career with Lucas Group. Based in Texas, Jeff has grown MAC into a multi-sector recruiting group, with a notable practice in agriculture and agribusiness.
Under his vision, MAC Executive Recruiters became known for its “MAC Process” and commitment to diversity recruiting. Jeff himself is a 20+ year veteran headhunter and a thought leader in the recruiting field, frequently mentoring new recruiters and speaking on topics like cultural fit and client advisory. In the agritech domain, Jeff’s firm has connected high-caliber executives with roles in ag equipment, agribusiness, and food tech companies.
He has an active presence on social media – particularly on X/Twitter where he shares leadership and hiring tips – and has built a personal brand around being an approachable, high-energy recruiting expert.
- LinkedIn: Jeff Chaponick
- X (Twitter): @jchaponick
Guy Moreton
Nationality: British
Guy is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of MorePeople, a UK recruitment firm specializing in the food, fresh produce, agriculture, and horticulture industries. With a career spanning recruitment and produce trading, Guy launched MorePeople in 2000 to serve the talent needs of agrifood businesses.
He has since overseen one of the sector’s most respected recruiting teams, placing mid-to-executive talent in roles from farm management and agtech supply chain to produce marketing. Guy’s firm has earned a reputation for strong performance – achieving consecutive record years in placements, even amid challenging markets. As an industry veteran, Guy often speaks about the “fundamental skills shortage” in agriculture and the need to attract more young people into the sector.
He’s involved with organizations like the Fresh Produce Consortium and City Food Lecture in promoting agri-food careers.
- LinkedIn: Guy Moreton
Dave Allen
Nationality: American
Dave is President and Owner of AGRI-SEARCH, Inc., a U.S.-based agricultural recruiting firm headquartered in Illinois. He joined AGRI-SEARCH in 1999 and purchased the business in 2001, succeeding founder Rich Connell in leading this specialized placement firm.
Dave has over two decades of experience recruiting for all facets of agriculture, from grain operations managers and agronomy sales specialists to agritech R&D roles. Known for his integrity and personal approach, he has built lasting relationships across Midwest cooperatives, agribusiness companies, and farming operations. Dave often shares “Career Insights” columns in farm publications and on the AGRI-SEARCH blog, providing guidance to both employers and job seekers in agriculture. He is highly visible within professional associations like GEAPS and FFA alumni networks.
On LinkedIn, Dave posts job openings and motivational advice, reflecting his dedication to “growing the future of agriculture one person at a time.”
- LinkedIn: Dave Allen
Max MacGillivray
Nationality: British
Max is the Founder of Redfox Executive Selection, a UK-based recruitment firm specializing in fresh produce, food, and agtech sectors. With 20+ years in recruiting, Max is a well-known figure in the produce and agritech industry. He has a hands-on farming background and started Redfox to help agribusinesses find leaders who drive innovation in the supply chain.
Max is also recognized for thought leadership: he has commented on major shifts like retailers’ direct sourcing and the resulting talent needs in fresh produce. In 2017, he led a notable initiative called “The Great Fruit Adventure” (a motorcycle journey from London to Cape Town) to inspire young people to consider careers in fresh produce and agtech. Max actively hosts webinars and LinkedIn Live sessions on topics from vertical farming talent to sustainability.
His energetic social media presence and constant engagement with both clients and candidates have made him one of the UK’s top agritech recruitment influencers.
- LinkedIn: Max MacGillivray
Joep Maussen
Nationality: Dutch
Joep is the co-founder of Fruit Recruit, a European recruitment company specializing in fresh produce and AgTech talent. Based in the Netherlands/Spain, Fruit Recruit has, since its founding in 2011, built a “fresh-produce-only” global network and expanded into vertical farming and agritech roles.
Joep’s background includes produce supply chain management, which informs his recruiting practice in this niche. Over the last decade, he has guided Fruit Recruit through industry shifts, such as the rise of direct produce sourcing by retailers and the increasing need for specialized technical experts. Joep is known for his international reach – placing candidates in Europe, Latin America, and beyond – and for launching an online recruitment portal to modernize hiring in the produce/agtech sector.
He frequently attends fresh produce expos (like Fruit Logistica) and contributes to discussions on talent shortages in horticulture. Joep engages his network on LinkedIn with updates on global produce market hiring and is respected as a connector in the agritech produce realm.
- LinkedIn: Joep Maussen
Kayleigh Bottomley
Nationality: British
Kayleigh is the Founder and CEO of Storm4, a specialist GreenTech recruitment firm that includes AgTech as a key sector focus. After nearly a decade recruiting engineers in the oil & gas industry, Kayleigh pivoted to climate and agriculture technology, launching Storm4 in 2020 with the mission to be “the recruitment arm of the GreenTech industry”.
Under her leadership, Storm4 rapidly expanded across Europe, North America, and APAC, supported by $11M+ in investment. Kayleigh’s recruitment team operates in verticals like sustainable agriculture, precision farming, and foodtech, leveraging a data-driven approach to executive search. She has been recognized by industry groups (European Women in Sales Awards 2016) for her impactful work and her promotion of diversity & inclusion in tech hiring.
As a public figure, Kayleigh contributes to GreenTech panels and writes about hiring trends in agritech and climate tech.
- LinkedIn: Kayleigh Bottomley
Sum Up
These leading AgriTech recruiters have made a significant impact on the industry by expertly sourcing top talent, driving innovation, and fostering growth in emerging agricultural technology markets. However, working directly with these professionals can be challenging due to their high demand and often high fees.
A practical alternative is partnering with EchoGlobal, where our in-depth industry knowledge and expansive global network can seamlessly connect you with the perfect AgriTech talent to accelerate your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk