Denmark-based Novozymes announced Monday that its Novozymes Biologicals subsidiary in Roanoke County and Salem has a new president -- news that triggered accolades from across the region for outgoing President Ted Melnik.

Patrick Patterson, 45, replaces Melnik, 52, who has been Novozymes Biologicals president since its incorporation in July 2001. Melnik is a widely respected business and community leader in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

The company and Melnik said his decision to leave was voluntary. He will stay with the company until the end of April. Patterson became president Monday. Melnik said he plans to "take a good sabbatical and then start to look for some other opportunities" -- ideally in the region.

"It's been a fun, good run, but it kind of felt like the right time to make a transition," Melnik said.

Word of his exit as president stirred tributes from other technology executives, the NewVA Corridor Technology Council, fellow supporters of the Roanoke River Greenway network and economic developers such as Doug Chittum.

"I think Ted was a major factor in creating an aura of confidence in the entrepreneurial community that made people believe that Roanoke could indeed compete with any region for high-tech jobs and investment," said Chittum, director of Roanoke County's department of economic development.

"Novozymes was seriously considering relocating its Roanoke Valley-based operations to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina," Chittum said. "Ted strongly believed that the company could grow and attract the types of employees it needed right here in the Roanoke Valley."

Novozymes Biologicals has about 175 employees in Roanoke County and Salem. The company discovers naturally occurring microorganisms and formulates them into products for industrial, consumer and agricultural uses. As one example, microorganisms can degrade wastes in water treatment plants.

During Melnik's tenure, Novozymes Biologicals completed seven acquisitions. Sales revenues grew from $17 million in 2001 to more than $80 million in 2009. And the company completed construction in September 2002 of a headquarters and research and development building at Roanoke County's Center for Research and Technology.

In a statement Monday, Thomas Videbaek, executive vice president for parent Novozymes, said, "Ted Melnik has done a great job growing [Novozymes] Biologicals to its current stage. The organizational changes today are part of gearing the organization for future growth and adapting to the requests from the market."

Jay Foster, founder and president of Soft Solutions in Roanoke, spoke highly of Melnik.

"Ted Melnik represents that type of visionary, creative leadership that has a lasting impact on a region," Foster said. "Not only was his leadership key for building momentum behind the greenways, he also pushed to have our region's top educators recognized and honored during the NCTC TechNite celebration."

Liz Belcher is coordinator for the Roanoke River Greenway.

"Ted has been a wonderful supporter of the greenway program," she said. "In addition to Novozymes' donation of money, Ted has personally emphasized to the business community that greenways are important amenities which attract quality employees."

Novozymes Biologicals has made voluntary contributions for the greenways but also agreed to financially support a riverfront project after pleading guilty in 2008 to dumping wastes that ended up in Mason Creek.

But the company's ongoing support has helped develop the sort of quality of life asset promoted by the Roanoke Regional Partnership economic development organization, said Beth Doughty, executive director.

She said Melnik "stepped up at a critical time in the development of the greenway network and not only contributed resources to extend the network but also helped that amenity make a big leap in the community's collective consciousness."

Gordie Zeigler was NewVA Corridor Technology Council's executive director from 2001 to 2007. Melnik was its president from 2005 to 2007.

"Ted throws his abundant energy into everything, and he's a big thinker," Zeigler said.

Mary Guy Miller, the council's current president, is president of information technology company IDD in Blacksburg.

Miller, like many others, said she hopes the Melniks stay in the region.

"He is a true leader and we have all benefited by having him here," Miller said.

Patterson has worked most recently as general manager at a Novozymes facility in Switzerland.