James "Jim" Hagedorn was named president and chief operating officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro in April 2000 and chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer in January 2003. Prior to April 2000, he was in charge of the company's North American business.[1]
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Hagedorn is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and holds a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is co-chairman of the National Fund for the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., an associate trustee of the North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York and chairman of the board for the Farms for City Kids Foundation, Inc. in Reading, Vermont. Hagedorn also served in the United States Air Force for seven years as a captain and an F-16 fighter pilot.
Hagedorn joined Scotts Miracle-Gro in 1995 as senior vice president of Consumer Gardens Group, when the company merged with Stern's Miracle-Gro Products, Inc. At Miracle-Gro, he had served as executive vice president and was a major architect of Miracle-Gro's success both in the US and in the UK. James is the son of Horace Hagedorn, founder of Miracle-Gro. Following the merger, Hagedorn was instrumental in the effective integration of the two businesses.
An avid pilot, Hagedorn was told by the board of directors he would have to stop flying before taking his position over safety concerns. Hagedorn chose to ignore the board's wishes and continues to pilot small aircraft.
Because Scotts Miracle-gro is the largest of the consumer lawn and garden companies, some critics have chosen Hagedorn as the focus of their drive to remove phosphorus and pesticides from consumer use. In an article published by Kepper and Barnes Press in 2007, Hagedorn is cited as having been the "lead advocate" of company practices that include endangering the welfare of several monitored species of reptiles. Reportedly, the area in question, which is less than fifty miles from Miracle-Gro's Ohio headquarters, has seen an alarming decline in region-specific wildlife and a sharp increase in fatal illnesses in humans. Very few of these criticisms have been backed by scientific research and specific studies.
Recently, Hagedorn was recognized by Embry-Riddle for the contributions he has made to his alma mater in an announcement that the Aviation Complex, upon completion, would bear his name. He participated in its groundbreaking March 27, 2008.[2]