After 44 years with the French rose breeder Meilland, Jean Dyens will retire at the end of September, a few days after the Naivasha Horticultural Fair. He will be succeeded by Rowan Godfrey.
Jean and Rowan.
“Jean was almost born in a rose!” says Bruno Etavard. “His grandfather, who was living a few kilometers from the Meilland’s property in Antibes, has been one of the first producers of the worldwide known roses Sonia Meilland® and Baccara® in the 60s. Also, his aunt was one of the greatest florist retailers in Marseille. Since then, thanks to his fabulous energy and enthusiasm, Jean became a rose pioneer in several countries on behalf of the House of MEILLAND and for the Rose.
After the production of cuttings for the pot roses Meillandina®/Sunblaze® in Israel, he was one of the first breeders producing them in Zimbabwe and selling 12-month-old cut rose bushes produced in and exported from Spain at that time. Then, among other countries, he went to India at the beginning of the cut flower industry there, but also to China for technical assistance in the 90s. Afterward, he promoted and developed Meilland roses in South Africa, Ethiopia, and finally, Kenya.
Today, Rowan Godfrey, 35 years old, will be Jean’s successor shortly. “Rowan is a commercial, technical professional with over 10 years of experience in cut flowers. He is proud to become part of the ‘House of Meilland’ and will be more than happy to be available as Jean did before in the view of further development of Meilland varieties in East Africa.”
Both Jean and Rowan will be at the Naivasha Horticultural Fair in Kenya (September 22 and 23) and IFTF in the Netherlands (November 8-10).
For more information: 
Bruno Etavard
Meilland Roses
Email: [email protected]
https://meilland.com