Executive Team
Dr. McMickell began his career at AgJunction in August 2017 as the Senior Vice President of Global Product Development. Prior to joining the AgJunction team, Dr. McMickell held a variety of leadership positions at Honeywell Aerospace including serving as the Senior Director of Engineering in charge of Actuation Systems. He brings experience from leading electrical, software, and mechanical system development. He was awarded the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Lawrence Sperry Award for his achievement in the advancement of small satellite technology.
Dr. McMickell holds an M.B.A. in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He also received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah with a certificate in Mechatronics.
M. Brett McMickell, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. McMickell was appointed AgJunction’s President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2020. In September 2019, he served as AgJunction’s Chief Operating Officer, where his responsibilities included leading Sales, Global Customer Care, Engineering, Program Management, and Operations.
Bob Barjesteh
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Bob Barjesteh joined the AgJunction team in January 2016 as VP of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Intellectual Property (IP) and General Counsel (U.S.). Mr. Barjesteh was most recently the Managing Director-Chief Legal Officer at ClaroVia Technologies LLC., a specialty intellectual property and corporate transaction advisory firm.
As managing director at ClaroVia, he was responsible for providing advisory services to clients – including Novariant which was acquired by AgJunction in October 2015 – on IP monetization, strategic alliances, M&A and other complex corporate transactions.
Over the past twenty years Mr. Barjesteh held executive and management positions at ClaroVia, 3M Company, and Arthur Andersen LLP. He has accumulated extensive experience identifying and evaluating business opportunities for technology licensing, strategic alliances and other complex corporate transactions.
Cheryne Lowe, CPA, CA
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Lowe is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) with nearly 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Ms. Lowe has been a CFO consultant since February 2020, providing CFO, accounting and finance services. Prior to that, Ms. Lowe served at Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. from 2015 to 2019, including three years as CFO and Corporate Secretary and one year as Interim CFO and Corporate Secretary.
Ms. Lowe also held the position of VP Finance and CFO at Orlen Upstream Canada Ltd. and its predecessor TriOil Resources Ltd from 2010 to 2015. Prior thereto, Ms. Lowe held progressively senior positions at various oil and gas companies. Ms. Lowe obtained her CA designation in 2005 while articling at KPMG LLP.