The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named Curt Blades as senior vice president, AG Services.
Blades will be responsible for strategic direction of agriculture programs and services for the AEM membership, and will serve as primary liaison with ag-specific industry organizations, customer groups and government agencies, both in North America and worldwide. He replaces Charlie O’Brien, who announced his retirement from AEM earlier this year.
Blades served as group business development director for Meredith Corporation and as a member of the strategic leadership team for Meredith Agrimedia business unit. In addition to strategy, he has extensive experience in management, marketing, sales and research.
He joined Meredith in 2002, with previous positions including management roles at MachineryLink and Farmland Industries. He has been active in the National Agri-Marketing Association, Agribusinesss Education Foundation and Agriculture Council of America.
O’Brien announced in April his intention to retire from AEM to take care of family and a family business. He joined AEM in 2007 and prior to that held positions of increasing responsibility with John Deere Credit.
Published in the October 2017 Edition of American Recycler News