Steve Burt Named President of ADAPCO

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Longtime Bayer executive Steve Burt has been named president and CEO of ADAPCO, a leading provider of products, technology and services to the mosquito control industry. In his new role, Burt will oversee day-to-day operations of the Sanford, Fla.-based business, maintaining its market commitment to the mosquito control industry while growing its presence in the water treatment sector.

“While I’m very sad to leave Bayer after working for the company for more than 20 years, it’s a marvelous opportunity to build a business and something I couldn’t pass up,” he said. “I am leaving Bayer on very good terms. Bayer has a lot of very talented people within its ranks and the U.S. market is very important to them, so they won’t have any trouble filling the position.”
           

Burt, 46, joined Bayer Environmental Science in 1984, rising rapidly through the ranks before being named vice president, Professional Pest Management, in 2003. During his tenure, Bayer introduced a number of new products and enhancements to existing technology, including Maxforce Granular Fly Bait, Premise Foam, TopChoice Fire Ant Bait and Premise Granules. He also played a role in the design and construction of the company’s Clayton, N.C. research facility and saw Bayer through the Federal Trade Commission’s “Hold Separate Order” relating to the sale of the company’s fipronil assets to BASF Corporation.

A well-known figure in the pest management industry, Burt served on the board of directors of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) and was actively involved in a number of industry trade groups, including UPF&DA, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment and the National Pest Management Association. “Steve is going to be sorely missed,” said PPMA Executive Director Cindy Mannes. “He’s been an amazing industry stakeholder who not only contributed money to PPMA, but helped build the organization to what it is today.”

A self-proclaimed “farm boy” of modest means, Burt grew up in Glastonbury, England, an 8th century town that purportedly was the home to King Arthur and His Court. “It’s a very spiritual place,” he said in a PCT Executive Forum interview in 2003. “It’s still a place I like to go back to and visit to regain some perspective on my life.”

The eldest of four children, Burt is a graduate of Warwick College. He embarked on his pest control career upon joining Fisons, a highly regarded British firm best known in the pest control industry as the manufacturer of Ficam insecticide.

ADAPCO was founded in 1985 by Allen Wooldridge, Dan Boyd and Pete Pederson, and represents 24 manufacturers of mosquito control products. In addition, ADAPCO develops and manufactures several technologies designed for both aerial and ground-based application of chemical products for the mosquito control and other industries.

“Bringing Steve onboard will add to ADAPCO’s very experienced staff,” Wooldridge said. “We are looking forward to having him here.”

Burt will remain with Bayer until mid-July. His position is expected to be filled internally.