ArborGen Appoints John M. Radak as Chief Financial Officer

RIDGEVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ArborGen, a world leader in the sale and development of advanced genetic seedlings that improve the productivity of forest trees, today announced that John M. Radak has been named chief financial officer (CFO) effective August 15, 2014. Radak brings extensive experience in finance and business as well as a broad understanding of funding growth companies. As ArborGen's new CFO, Radak will be responsible for the company's finance, treasury and investor relations functions.

“John brings outstanding financial and analytical knowledge, strong executive leadership skills and strategic planning experience,” said Andrew Baum, president and chief executive of ArborGen. “His experience will complement the current management team's expertise in assessing and implementing growth strategies as we execute our vision and expand our global commercial operations.”

Radak has more than 30 years of financial experience in the healthcare, life sciences and emerging technology industries. Most recently he served as the CFO of Skinit, Inc., a private equity based start-up, where he was responsible for financial management, banking relationships and risk management for the company. Prior to that he was the vice president of finance and chief accounting officer for Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ : IVGN) before joining Quidel Corporation QDEL as chief financial officer.

Radak is a CPA and has a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and finance from California State University in Fullerton, and he received his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

About ArborGen

ArborGen is the largest global supplier of seedling products and the leading provider of elite genetics to the forest industry. Through innovations in conventional breeding, improved genetics and emerging biotechnology advances, ArborGen is developing high-value products that significantly improve the productivity of a given acre of land. These products enable ArborGen's customers to grow trees that yield more wood per acre with greater consistency and quality in a shorter period of time. ArborGen's work is improving the sustainability of working forests while helping to meet the world's growing need for wood, fiber and energy. For more information, please visit www.arborgen.com.