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The Scoop on New Leadership Changes at Sakata Seed America

By Growing Produce|February 9, 2026
The Sakata corporate logo.

The Sakata corporate logo. | Sakata Seed America

Sakata Seed America has announced an executive leadership transition. Eduardo Flores, President and CEO, is reported to be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Dave Armstrong will be stepping in to fill the role.

Armstrong is quite familiar with this role as he served as President and CEO for more than 15 years at the company.

Flores is departing after less than a year at the helm. He assumed the President and CEO role in April 2025 after Armstrong transitioned into the role of Executive Chairman.

Amidst these changes, business operations will continue without interruption.

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Justin Davis Promoted to Chief Operating Officer

Additionally, the company announced the promotion of Justin Davis to Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vegetables, effective Feb. 1, 2026.

Davis, a 20-year veteran of Sakata, currently serves as Executive Director of Commercial Operations, where he leads sales, marketing, and supply chain for the vegetable business. In his new role, Davis will assume responsibility for the end-to-end operations of Sakata Seed America’s vegetable business, integrating research and development, supply chain, and vegetable seed sales and marketing to support innovation and long-term value creation. He will now report directly to Armstrong.

“Throughout his career with Sakata, Justin has demonstrated strong leadership capability and a deep commitment to Sakata’s values and culture,” says Armstrong. “Justin’s long experience with Sakata, combined with his leadership of our commercial operations, gives him a deep understanding of our business and our culture.”

Headquartered in Woodland, CA, Sakata Seed America is a major research, seed production, and marketing-distribution subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation, based in Yokohama, Japan.

In 2027, Sakata Seed America will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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