Veseris announced the appointment of John Smith as President of The Tessman & Lynde Companies, marking a leadership transition as longtime executive Terry Reiten prepares to retire after 24 years.
Smith will report directly to CEO Ken Bradley and is set to assume the role on May 4. He joins at a pivotal time for the business, building on the foundation established by Reiten, who has led the company since 2001 and helped shape its reputation across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The leadership transition is structured to ensure continuity, with Smith working alongside Reiten through July. The company emphasized that customers and supplier partners should expect no disruption to operations, programs, or service commitments during the handoff.
Smith brings more than 15 years of experience across specialty chemicals, agriculture, pest control, and turf and ornamental markets. His background includes commercial leadership, purchasing strategy, and supplier partnership development, which Veseris views as critical to strengthening its competitive position and supporting growth across its distribution network.
The Tessman Company, established in 1950, supplies lawn care, golf course, and greenhouse professionals with fertilizers, chemicals, grass seed, and landscape materials. The Lynde Company, founded in 1980, focuses on water care products, chemicals, and equipment for pool and spa businesses across the region.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Veseris operates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, supported by more than 250 sales and service professionals across 82 locations, along with a network of dealer partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.
KEY QUOTES:
“Terry built a business grounded in trust – with customers and supply partners alike. That legacy at Tessman is one Veseris is proud to carry forward, and reflects the lasting impact of his leadership. Terry has done a great job in the last year of connecting Tessman & Lynde within Veseris while staying focused on maintaining and growing their business. John will build on what Terry and team have done to accelerate additional growth within Tessman and to assist Veseris with our growth and expansion into the T&O markets across the country. Bringing John in is fully consistent with our commitment to being the preferred choice – for our customers, our vendors, and the professionals who depend on us every day.”
Ken Bradley, CEO of Veseris
“I’m honored to step into a role built on such a strong foundation. Tessman and Lynde have earned the trust of their customers and supply partners over decades, and my focus from day one is to deepen those relationships and continue to find additional opportunities to deliver value.”
John Smith, Incoming President of The Tessman & Lynde Companies
