Valent BioSciences has announced that President and CEO Ted Melnik will retire in July and that Salman Mir, the company’s current executive president and chief operating officer, will be elevated to the role of CEO. The Liberty, Ill.-based company produces biological products for agriculture, public health and forestry, from natural bacteria. It operates a facility in Osage, in northern Iowa’s Mitchell County. It is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. According to a news release announcing his retirement, Melnik joined Valent Biosciences in 2013 as chief operating officer and was promoted to CEO in 2022. “I want to thank Ted for his many invaluable contributions to the organization during the past 10 years,” said Nobuaki Mito, representative director and senior managing executive officer of Sumitomo Chemical Co., in the release. “Not only has he elevated Valent BioSciences’ global industry leadership position, but he has left his imprint on the company in numerous areas.” In his new role of president and CEO, Mir, who joined Valent Biosciences in 2012, will oversee all the company’s global activities. According to the release, Mir has extensive experience in sales, marketing, operations and business development. He joined Valent BioSciences as vice president of global marketing and business management, where he was responsible for leading the company’s global marketing and commercial activities. He was promoted to his current position in 2022.