Leadership Changes Happening at Sakata Seed America

Dave Armstrong steps into the role of president and CEO, while Sakata veteran Justin Davis moves to chief operating officer of vegetables.

A middle-aged man with fair skin, blue eyes, and silvering hair stands in front of a greenhouse while wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a blue-striped suit coat over a blue and white checked shirt.
Justin Davis, a 20-year veteran of Sakata Seed, will be chief operating officer of vegetables, effective Feb. 1, 2026.
(Photo courtesy of Sakata Seed America)

On Jan. 26, Woodland, Calif.-based seed research and production company Sakata Seed America, a subsidiary of Japan-based Sakata Seed Corporation, announced several changes to its leadership team.

The changes included the departure of former president and CEO, Eduardo Flores; the promotion of Dave Armstrong to the role; and the promotion of Justin Davis to chief operating officer of vegetables. The company thanked Flores for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors.

Davis, in his new role that is effective Feb. 1, will report directly to Armstrong in his new role. Davis is a 20-year veteran of Sakata and currently serves as executive director of commercial operations, where he leads sales, marketing and supply chain for the vegetable business.

“Throughout his career with Sakata, Justin has demonstrated strong leadership capability and a deep commitment to Sakata’s values and culture,” Armstrong says. “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.”

In the 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.

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