Primary Job Title Managing Partner Primary Organization 
Kincannon & Reed
Location Des Moines, Iowa, United States Regions Midwestern US Gender Male
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Jon Leafstedt is currently serving as the Managing Partner for Kincannon & Reed, a renowned retained executive search firm that specializes in recruiting top-level executives for organizations in the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors. With his extensive experience and expertise, Leafstedt plays a pivotal role in leading executive
recruitment efforts within these industries.
Before joining Kincannon & Reed in 2007, Leafstedt held various executive positions in global agribusiness and technology companies. His roles included serving as the President of Chromatin, Inc., a plant biotechnology firm, where he played a key role in advancing the company's initiatives. Additionally, he served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Phytodyne, Inc., a venture capital-backed biotechnology company. In this capacity, Leafstedt oversaw global intellectual property and regulatory efforts. He also gained valuable experience as the head of state government affairs programs for the agrichemical businesses at BASF/American Cyanamid.
Throughout his career, Leafstedt has been actively involved in industry associations and organizations. He has chaired the Iowa Biotechnology Association and held committee leadership positions at the Animal Health Institute, American Feed Industry Association, and the American Crop Protection Association (now CropLife America). These engagements demonstrate his commitment to advancing the interests of the agriculture and life sciences sectors.
Leafstedt holds an honors degree from the MBA program at the University of Iowa and a bachelor's degree in animal science from South Dakota State University. His educational background in both business administration and animal science provides him with a well-rounded perspective that combines industry knowledge with strategic leadership skills.
