Luke Friedmann joined the Kelp Products’ team in 2022 as Regional Director of Asia-Pacific. He has completed his Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance, followed by a Master of International Business at Sydney University Business School, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He holds strategy consulting experience across several industries, including Energy, Financial Services, Insurance, Government, Not-For-Profit, Retail and Agriculture, gained during his time as a Manager with KPMG Australia’s Global Strategy Group. Luke is married to Josephine. Email: luke.friedmannk@kelpak.com

Nico Engelbrecht is the marketing and sales manager for South Africa, including Sub-Saharan Africa. He has an Msc (Agric) and an in-depth experience in plant production with special interest in row-crops, pastures and plant physiology. Nico joined the Kelp Products' team in 2009 and has contributed to Kelpak's development in the local and African markets. He is married to Marelize and they have three children. Email: nico.engelbrecht@kelpak.com

Ingo Rogge joined Kelp Products International in December 2024 as Regional Manager EMEA. He brings over 15 years of expertise in the international agricultural sector, with a proven track record in sales, product development, market strategy, and building successful cross-cultural partnerships. Ingo's academic credentials include a Diploma (MSc equivalent) in Agricultural Engineering from the Technical University of Munich and an MSc in Agricultural & Environmental Engineering from Cranfield University. His multilingual proficiency and adaptability make him an asset in navigating the complexities of global markets. In his new role as Regional Manager EMEA, Ingo is excited to collaborate with the talented team at Kelp Products International and build strong relationships with clients to drive success across the region.
Email: ingo.rogge@kelpak.com

Linda brings over 30 years of industry experience and has worked closely with Kelpak for the past eight years, giving her a deep technical understanding of our product, crop applications, and markets. Linda will lead Kelpak’s global technical support and crop trial efforts, acting as a vital link between regional, marketing, customer support, and R&D teams. Email: linda.greyling@kelpak.com

Carlo Botha joined the group in 2019 as Financial Director Designate and was appointed Group Financial Director in 2020. In 2022 he was appointed as Managing Director of Kelp Products International (KPI), the business responsible for distribution of Kelpak to markets worldwide. He obtained his education from the University of Stellenbosch and qualified as a Chartered Accountant through Baker Tilly Greenwoods in Cape Town. He holds executive management experience in various industries, predominantly in agriculture. He is also a 2016 finalist in the top 35 under 35 CA (SA)’s as chosen by the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants. Carlo is married to Louise and they have three sons.
Email: carlo.botha@kelpak.com

Phillip Gehlen brings over 10 years of experience in the ag business both in LatAm & Europe. After having led a crop genetic company and gained enriching experience working for one of the leading agricultural retailers in Chile, he completed a M.Sc degree in Agribusiness from the Hohenheim University (Germany). After earning his degree, he relocated to Barcelona and joined one of the most disruptive agtech companies in the soil microbiome analytics as LatAm and Europe Business Development Manager. Phillip joined Kelp Products International on the late fall 2023. He now supports the sales & marketing in LATAM.
Email: phillip.gehlen@kelpak.com

Jorge Pacheco joined Kelp Products USA in April 2024 as USA Western Region Sales Manager. Jorge obtained his bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics from Texas A&M University; In Addition, He is an experienced, Six Sigma certified Agricultural professional with more than 30 years in the business. Jorge’s career includes Retail Account Management at Dupont Crop Protection, National Sales Management at Marrone Bio Innovations, Lead Pastoral Ministries, and later Managing Director at Trapview North America. Jorge is a native of El Salvador where he grew up in the family’s farming and ranching operations and is married to Elodia, they have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Email: jorge.pacheco@kelpak.com

Paul Hills brings a wealth of academic and applied experience to his role as Head of Research & Development at Kelpak. He joins the company after a distinguished career in plant molecular physiology and biotechnology at Stellenbosch University. Paul is no stranger to Kelpak - having used the product extensively in his own research, he has a deep appreciation for its biological complexity and commercial potential. His academic background and hands-on familiarity with biostimulants equip him to lead Kelpak’s scientific exploration, deepen our understanding of modes of action, and translate these insights into impactful product innovations. Paul’s leadership in R&D will be instrumental in positioning Kelpak as a scientific thought leader in the global biostimulant industry.
Email: paul.hills@kelpak.com

Lynne Tolsma joined Kelp Products in 1999 as a personal assistant to Peter Friedmann, and as the shipping administrator. As the team grew Lynne was appointed as the shipping manager and then moved across to Customer Services working alongside all the worldwide markets and coordinating the Kelpak packaging and marketing material. She obtained a NPS Diploma from the Cape Technikon and moved into retail marketing followed by various aspects of the life assurance business, including a number of years in marketing development. Lynne is married to Mark and they have one son. Email: lynne.tolsma@kelpak.com

Steven van Rheede joined Kelp Products in 2021 as the Operations Manager and took over as Managing Director in 2023. He qualified as a Chemical Engineer in 2010 and went on to complete his MBA from UCT Graduate School of Business, graduating Cum Laude. Prior to joining Kelp Products, Steven headed up operations in the Automotive and Lighting industries. He has toured various manufacturing facilities in Luxembourg, Poland, Germany and Turkey, gaining international experience in best practice methodologies. Steven is also a Six Sigma certified with expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints and QMS. He is married to Nicole, and they have one son.
Email: steven.vanrheede@kelpak.com

Cristian Gutierrez has been involved in the development of the Kelpak market in Chile since 2006. After completing an Agronomist degree, he worked as a farm manager, mainly in the production of fruit and table grapes. Later he worked in a Chilean Perennial Fruit Exported Company (SAFEX) in charge of citrus and avo growers. Thereafter he spent four years at Del Monte Fresh Produce. In 2006 Cristian joined COMPO Chile where he developed a relationship with the Kelpak brand. He has become a recognized nutritional walnut consultant in Chile and, in May 2013, he joined Kelp Products providing technical and marketing support to the Chilean market. Cristian is married to Marcia and they have two children.
Email: cristian.gutierrez@kelpak.com

Jorge is an Agronomist Engineer with extensive experience in crop nutrition and crop protection across Mexico. He has worked in technical support, field trials, and crop programs for high-value and extensive crops through roles at Yara México and BASF Mexicana. At Kelpak®, Jorge leads technical development and support in Mexico, working closely with growers and partners to deliver sustainable, science-based crop solutions. Email: jorge.gutierrez@kelpak.com

It gives us great pleasure to introduce Chantelle Boucher, who will be joining us as Kelpak’s new Marketing Manager. Chantelle is a dynamic and goal-focused marketing, brand, and communication professional with more than 15 years of experience. She has proven expertise in creating, building, and growing brands in global markets. Her most recent was role was as Marketing Manager for the Perdeberg Group, where she spearheaded the marketing initiatives for one of South Africa’s leading wine producers. Chantelle holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing (Cum Laude) and various other marketing related diplomas. Email: marketing@kelpak.com

Cathy joined Kelpak in 2011 as a Shipping Administrator and was promoted to Shipping Manager in 2014. Following her relocation to the UK in 2019, she transitioned into a Customer Services role and currently provides Sales Support across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Cathy brought with her over a decade of experience in shipping and a strong background in office management. She holds a three-year Public Relations Diploma from The Cape Technikon and began her career in publicity and marketing, later gaining valuable experience in executive support and freight forwarding. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys family life with her husband Wayne and their two children.
Email: cathy.lenz@kelpak.com

Shren Moodley has joined the group starting April 2023 as commercial director for KPEX. Shren brings with him a wealth of senior management experience from companies such as Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company & BP. His last position was on the board for McCain Foods SA as commercial director. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Kwazulu Natal, and later went on to complete his MBA studies majoring in Marketing & Innovation. He has received multiple consumer voted innovation awards & has led new innovation pipeline development & deployment across a diverse set of sectors & companies both locally and globally. Shren is married, with 2 sons. Email: shren.moodley@kelpak.com

Antipas R. Criador IV or Jojo for short joined the Kelp Products’ team in March 2016 as the Technical Sales Manager for Asia Pacific. He has more than 30 years of extensive experience in the agri-industry in different roles and management levels with involvement in research and production, sales and technical, operations management and business development with multinational companies namely Dole, Dow AgroSciences, BASF, Biostadt and now with KP Pacific. Jojo is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños with a degree in BS Agriculture, Major in Agronomy. He is married to Grace and they have 4 children and now with 5 grandchildren.
Email: jojo.criador@kelpak.com

MG van der Westhuizen is the Technical Sales Manager at Kelp Products International. He has extensive experience in technical sales, business development and crop production, with a strong technical background in table grapes, citrus and a range of other crops across the Western and Northern Cape. With specialist experience in biostimulants, MG works closely with growers to provide practical, science-based solutions that improve crop performance and productivity. Based in Worcester, Western Cape, he supports Kelpak's local business and provides technical assistance to KP Pacific when required. MG is married to Stefanie, and they have two children. Email: mg.vanderwesthuizen@kelpak.com

Pascale joined the group in 2022 and was appointed Group Financial Manager in 2023. She obtained her BCom from UNISA and has business and financial experience across a wide range of industries. Email: pascale.butcher@kelpak.com