Executive Management
Team

It’s our talented team of people at MagrowTec who are committed to bringing the best in innovation and technology to our customers around the globe.

Gary Wickham

Chief Executive Officer Gary Wickham, founding member & CEO of MagrowTec is an accomplished and highly experienced entrepreneur & businessman. Gary began his career in Henkel Loctite Ireland where he held several senior management positions which included building Loctite’s first ever cleanroom facility for the Biomedical and Microelectronic product ranges. Gary was also a key member of the M&A Team.

Gary joined Reheis Pharma Ireland as Managing Director with a turnover of €250million. In 2003 Gary co-founded StayCity apartment hotels, a highly successful international business with a turnover of €250 million and over 1200 employees.

Gary holds a BSc in Applied Sciences from Trinity College, Dublin and a Business Masters in Industrial Engineering from University College Dublin.

Gary was a finalist in the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mel Hurley

Chief Financial Officer Mel has over 25 years international experience in senior management roles with companies such as Rentokil Initial (UK), Fiserv (USA) and Changing Worlds (Ireland) bought out by Amdocs (USA).

While having extensive experience in senior finance roles from the early 90’s he has also developed his skills across sales, operations and general management with a particular lean towards scaling businesses.
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Prof. Anthony Furness

Chief Scientific Officer Anthony is a Chartered Engineer and a Doctoral-qualified practitioner in research, previously engaged with MagrowTec on a consultancy basis, and now operating as MagrowTec’s Chief Scientific Officer.

Through the consultancy projects he has contributed to the scientific and technological foundational development of the company, now extended to assisting the CEO and the Executive team of Agricultural Magnetics Ltd (MagrowTec) in developing the company’s corporate strategy with regard to research, corporate vision, product and business development, including leadership in progressing the scientific and technological standing of the company.

 Anthony’s career spans over 40 years industry-facing, with academia, commercial organisations, government and industry-representative bodies, including involvement in European projects, in a technical capacity, and later with respect to food security and precision livestock farming. The latter led to an invitation to become a Visiting Professor at Harper Adams University, a position he has held, on yearly invited basis, for over six years, with projects that have cultivated a strong interest in physics and electromagnetics applied to biological systems, engineering applied to precision agriculture and the links with MagGrow on foundational studies. The consultancy base has also helped develop a strong focus on strategic thought-leadership with abilities to generate, analyse and evaluate concepts, research models and polices.

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Frederic Dupont

Chief Operating Officer Frederic has over 15 years industry experience. A Manufacturing Engineer by trade, Frederic began his career in Henkel Loctite Ireland in 2001 as a Production Engineer. He was then promoted to Production Manager in early 2006.

Frederic then joined the start-up company Stay City in 2007 as a project manager before being promoted to Technical and Operations Director. Stay City which was founded in 2003, is now a €125 million + turnover business.
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Nick Jessop

Head of Crop Science Nick has over 15 years’ experience in crop protection and agricultural research, He worked for 5 years as a research associate at the International Pesticide Application Research Centre (IPARC), at Imperial College London.

Nick’s other roles include: Head of Technology Development at UK based SME Exosect Ltd, Global Development Scientist for Arysta LifeScience’s seed treatment division, Head of Primary Production and Agricultural Research at Campden BRI, one of Europe’s leading food and drink research organisations. Inventor on 23 granted patents and 29 pending, primarily related to dose transfer optimisation of pesticides. Nick has several publications on efficient use of application equipment and holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Crop Protection from Imperial College London.

Peter Robertson

Chief Technology Officer With over 25 years of experience within the Operational and Technical space of multiple industries, Peter’s core skillsets include Project Management, Business Development, and Innovation Strategy.

Throughout his career, Peter worked 12 years in De La Rue and was involved in the design and development of the Irish Biometric Passport, being responsible for the integrity of the passport which was released in 2006 and is still one of the most secure in the world.

In 2009, Peter joined ATA Group, starting as a Group Operations Manager, heading up the operations within two facilities. In 2013, Peter was promoted to Divisional General Manager of the Pneumatic Tool Division until 2016 when he was promoted to Chief Technical Officer, heading up six facilities throughout Ireland, UK, US and Germany, employing 400+ people.

During his time with ATA, Peter had been significantly involved in several acquisitions across the US, UK, and EU, being proficient in undertaking operational, technical and commercial due diligence, then following acquisition, driving operational and technical transition and integration.

After leaving ATA in 2020, Peter went on to set up a Consulting Business working with Industry on Project Management, Business Development and Innovation Projects, along with advising and consulting with companies on Corporate Strategy. Peter worked in NovaUCD with GB Innovation, advising and consulting with companies on Innovation and Strategy.

Peter holds a BA Honours Degree in Business and Printing Technology (London) and a Diploma in Environmental Management (DipEM).

Peter has been assisting MagrowTec as a consultant over the last few months to draft our strategic plan for the business and since last August Peter has been involved as acting CTO for the business.

Mauro Cerati

Chief Commercial Officer Mauro is a high-energy senior executive with vast business leadership and international experience, with a proven track record of successfully building, transforming and leading businesses to sustainable growth.

He has had a distinguished career in the global Agri Food & Ingredients industries, with deep business experiences in Europe, the Americas, and South Africa as well as a very good knowledge of SEA.

He was born and educated in Italy, lived in Italy, the USA, and Mexico, spent extended time in South America, and holds Italian and American dual citizenship. Mauro can interact in multiple languages and has spent his career in a complex, dynamic, and multicultural environment with extensive experience building and successfully transforming businesses in various countries.

Mauro is a Business Management graduate from the L. Bocconi in Milan and has an Advanced Management Program Certificate from Wharton School of Business – University of Pennsylvania.