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.png "Melissa Lilze Leads Netafim North America Growth")
Bonnie Johnson
January 13, 2026
Media ArticleNetafim, the precision agriculture business of Orbia Advance Corporation, appoints Melissa Lilze as Senior Vice President for North America, effective January 1, 2026. She also joins the company’s Executive Leadership Team. She succeeded Mike Hemman, who plays a major role in strengthening Netafim’s position and driving growth across the region.
Melissa Lilze has been part of Orbia Netafim since 2016. She starts her career with the company as a Sales Representative in California. Over time, she advances to lead sales in the Western United States. Most recently, she serves as Senior Director of Sales for North America, where she helps expand the business and build strong customer relationships.
Before joining Netafim, Lilze worked in national and regional leadership roles at leading ag-tech companies. She helps open new markets, build strong sales teams, and secure long-term agreements with major partners. With nearly twenty years of experience in agriculture and ag-tech, she brings strong business skills, a people-first mindset, and a focus on innovation.
Gaby Miodownik, Executive Vice President and President of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business, says, “Melissa embodies the values and culture we have cultivated over many years of industry leadership. This, combined with her deep industry knowledge, commercial excellence, and people-first approach, makes her the ideal fit to lead our North America business, which is a key growth market for Orbia Netafim.”
Lilze becomes the first woman to lead the North America division, showing Netafim’s strong focus on diverse and inclusive leadership.
Speaking about her new role, Lilze says, “I'm excited to take on this role and lead our next chapter of growth for Netafim North America. Our focus for the coming years is clear: deliver smarter irrigation solutions that empower growers, strengthen partnerships, and drive sustainable impact.” She adds that listening to customers, teams, and the land is key to real innovation.
Netafim also thanks Mike Hemman for his years of service. He plays an important role in building partnerships, growing the business, and developing future leaders. With new leadership in place, Netafim continues its mission to support farmers, strengthen agriculture, and deliver smart irrigation solutions for lasting success.
Photo by:www.netafim.com
