Team

Organization and Management

Board of Directors

Chair
Khosro Khodayari

Dr Khosro Khodayari founded SynTech Research in 1999, now one of the entities of SynTech Research Group. Before founding SynTech Research he held several management positions at ICI, Zeneca and Syngenta. Khosro holds a PhD in Weed Science (IPM).

Managing Director
Yvonnick Jambon

Yvonnick brings over 25 years of experience in the agricultural sector, with a strong background in agronomy and international business leadership. A graduate of AgroParisTech, he began his career in crop protection in 1998 as an agronomist.

Member
Thibaud Gachet

Thibaud has been a partner at private equity firm Ekkio Capital since 2004. Before joining Ekkio Capital he worked for 6 years with Arthur Andersen and Ernst&Young (restructuring and acquisition audits). Thibaud graduated from EDHEC Lille, France.

Member
Xavier Loosevelt

Xavier Loosveldt joined Ekkio Capital in 2005. Prior to Ekkio he worked in strategy at LEK Consulting for 5 years. Xavier graduated from ESSEC and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

Observer
Hubert Lange

Hubert Lange has been a partner at Cerea Partners, a private equity and debt group specializing in the financing of companies active in the food and agricultural value chain. Prior to Cerea, Hubert worked as an investment director with PAI Partners and Gilde Buy Out Partners after starting his career with Arthur Andersen and Boston Consulting Group.

Member
Arnaud Nait-Chalal

Arnaud Nait-Chalal joined Ekkio in 2017. Prior to Ekkio, Arnaud began his career in audit for 4 years, followed by approximately 10 years as operational controller at AIR LIQUIDE, and then 10 years as CFO of mid-sized companies under LBO. Arnaud holds a DESCF degree and a Master's from ISEG in Financial Engineering, Accounting, and Finance.

Core Executive Team

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Yvonnick Jambon

Yvonnick brings over 25 years of experience in the agricultural sector, with a strong background in agronomy and international business leadership. A graduate of AgroParisTech, he began his career in crop protection in 1998 as an agronomist.

Before joining SynTech Research Group, Yvonnick held senior roles in Marketing, Sales, and General Management across the US, Canada, and Europe. He has worked with leading organizations including Bayer CropScience, Groupe Roullier, and Nufarm—most recently serving as Director of European Business at Nufarm.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Richard Gayet

Richard Gayet joined SynTech Research Group as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2023. Based in Lyon, France, Richard brings over two decades of international financial expertise to our team.
With a Master’s in Finance from the Burgundy School of Business, Richard has worked with diverse teams across EMEA, North and South America, South Africa, and China. He spent the last decade in the solar industry, overseeing EMEA and South America Finance Departments for companies like SunPower and Maxeon.
Richard’s experience also includes a stint as CFO for Cheminova (FMC Group) in the Agrochemical sector. His career philosophy centers on nurturing team members’ growth, both professionally and personally.

Regional Director EMEA
Francisco López

Francisco López is Managing Director for the Southern Zone, EMEA, including Spain, Portugal, Italy and North Africa. He is responsible for development and implementation of strategy, legal compliance, operational and executional efficiency, business development and achievement of P&L goals in all countries in the Zone.
Francisco has seventeen years’ experience in the Ag-market, starting as an agronomist and Technical Crop Advisor, with a degree in Agronomy from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and then an executive MBA from Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU.
Francisco joined SynTech in 2006. Since then, he has developed the company’s Bioefficacy services in EMEA, having been Project Manager, Iberia, Business Development Manager and Managing Director for Portugal and North Africa.

Regional Director North America
Matthew Kirkpatrick

Joining SynTech Research Group in 2024 as Director of North America Operations, Matthew brings nearly two decades of experience in the agricultural industry. Prior to joining SynTech Research, Matthew built a distinguished career at Valent USA (Sumitomo Corporation), where he held a range of leadership roles, from field R&D to managing the USA-Mid-South Agricultural Research Center in Leland, Mississippi, and most recently serving as Regional Sales Manager for the USA-Midwest Region.
Matthew’s deep industry knowledge, combined with his proven ability to drive operational excellence and strategic growth, will be instrumental in expanding SynTech Research’s footprint and impact across the North American market.

Regional Director Latin America Gonzalo Grigera

Gonzalo has nearly two decades of experience in the agricultural research sector. He holds a degree in Agronomy and a PhD in Applied Crop Ecophysiology from the University of Buenos Aires, complemented by a Business Program completed at Austral University.

In 2006, he co-founded AgIdea, where he led the development of R&D services for the agricultural industry, integrating applied science with business innovation.

As Regional Director for Latin America at SynTech Research Group, he is responsible for the development and implementation of regional strategy, legal compliance, operational efficiency, business development, and the achievement of P&L goals across all countries in the region.

Global Business Development Director
Regional Director of Asia Pacific
Jasper Barnes

Dr. Jasper Barnes has played a pivotal role in SynTech Research Group’s success, serving as Director of North America Operations for over six years. Under his leadership, the region experienced significant growth and operational strength.
In 2024, Jasper transitioned into the role of Global Business Development Director, where he leads the company’s efforts to expand into new markets and drive global commercial growth.
Jasper also manages the Global End-to-End product development offer, helping deliver comprehensive solutions to clients worldwide.

Global Functions

Global Lead for Regulatory Services
Marise Borja

Dr. Marisé Borja is the Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at SynTech Research Group, bringing expertise in regulatory science and business development within the agricultural sector. She is also the President of IBMA Spain, actively advocating for the development and implementation of biocontrol solutions.

Throughout her professional journey, Dr. Borja has been instrumental in advancing biosolutions, including biopesticides and biostimulants, across Spain, Europe, and globally.

Global Lead for Product Safety
Eric Ythier

Eric’s role covers all GLP laboratory and field services, including Human Safety (residues) and Environmental Safety (ecotoxicology) studies.
He obtained his M.Sc. in Entomology from the University of Tours, France and worked in academia and then Syngenta, as an arthropodologist and ecotoxicologist, before joining SynTech in 2004.
Over the past 20 years he has developed the company’s Ecotoxicology Services globally and has been Study Director, Team Lead, GLP Test Facility Manager, Global Ecotoxicology Manager. He then became EMEA & APAC Business Development Manager then Global Sales, Marketing & Communication Director.
Eric is also SynTech’s global technical and scientific expert for terrestrial ecotoxicology services.

Global Lead for BioSolutions
Esther Debón

Esther Debón brings over 14 years of experience in agricultural research and regulatory science to SynTech Research Group. Since joining in 2010, she has held key roles in GEP regulatory project management, GLP Quality Assurance, and strategic project leadership.

Now serving as BioSolutions Global Lead, Esther drives innovation in sustainable agricultural solutions, leveraging her deep expertise and cross-functional experience. She holds a PhD from Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias and previously worked as a field assistant at East Malling Research.

Global Lead for Seeds and Traits
Mariano Battista

Seasoned scientist and entrepreneur with a strong foundation in agricultural sciences. He holds a degree in Agronomy from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master’s in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California, Davis. Mariano began his career at Monsanto, where he held multiple leadership roles in research and development, seed technology, and production.
In 2006, he co-founded AgIdea. Under his leadership, AgIdea became a trusted partner in agricultural R&D, supporting the advancement of safer and more sustainable solutions.
In 2025, Mariano joined the leadership team of SynTech Research Group, marking a new chapter in his commitment to transforming global agriculture through science, innovation, and collaboration.

Global Lead for Human Resources
Helena Paulikova

Helena Paulikova joined SynTech Research Czech Republic as HR and Administration lead in May 2016, becoming lead for Central Europe in 2018 and HR Manager for EMEA in December 2020.

Before joining SynTech, Helena worked as HR Manager for Syngenta Czech Republic & Slovakia, including outsourcing and divestment projects. Prior to Syngenta, she worked in the pharmaceutical companies Schering Plough and Merck Sharpe & Dohme, and as HR Director for Avon Cosmetics covering countries in Central and Eastern Europe. She holds a master degree in Psychology from Charles University in Prague.

Core Executive Team

Global Functions