The St. Louis native is in the middle of a one-year term as the board chair of the American Feed Industry Association. It’s a busy time for Meagher, who last year oversaw Novus’ major realignment that created two distinct business units, one for liquid methionine solutions and another for specialty feed ingredients. The move will help the Chesterfield-based company sharpen its focus on innovation and operational agility while positioning it to better serve livestock producers worldwide.
2025 QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? Our people and our go-to-market solutions and pipeline of innovative projects.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? We are working to make the agriculture food industry an attractive career path for the next generation.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? Transforming a company while in a tough global landscape shift.
MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? My trusted business mentors
Do you have a business mentor? If so, who and why? Arnie Sumner and Ed McMillan, both very influential in my early Purina days and I was fortunate for and with them in a number of business ventures. They formed my business and people philosophy and how to succeed through the success of your people!
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? Make good people choices, set the vision/direction, give them the authority, and get out of their way.
If you could have dinner with any two area business leaders, who would you choose and why? Jim Kavanaugh with World Wide Technology because we played soccer at SLU together, have not talked in a while, and I have respect for what he has done to grow WWT into a global success. Bill DeWitt of the Cardinals, because it would be fascinating to learn how he manages the future of a historic franchise and fan base.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? Upgrade the quality of the infrastructure starting with Lambert Airport to ease the ability to travel more efficiently and conduct business
Keep up with local business news and trends
Subscribe to the St. Louis Business newsletter to get the latest insights sent to your inbox every morning.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? St. Louis
What was your childhood aspiration? Professional athlete
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? Hod carrier for bricklayers—go to school, and get a degree so I did not have to do this for a living!
What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? Business Accounting and Finance, Saint Louis University
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? In professional/college sports in some capacity
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? Annie Gunn’s
What is one item you recently crossed off your bucket list? Visit Vatican City in Rome
What’s your hobby/passion? Family
What is your most prized possession? Family
What would people be surprised to learn about you—a fun fact? A city boy who raised chickens in Nebraska.
What is your go-to karaoke song? I would not subject anyone to my lack of singing ability!
