Brian Kocher Chiquita Fresh Convenience Congress

Chiquita Brands International has announced that its chief financial officer (CFO)Brian Kocher has been named to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO).

According to the US-based fresh produce multinational, Kocher will remain in his position as CFO until his replacement is named, with the companyinitiating a CFO search.

Chiquita said that, in alignment withits newstrategic direction, it is consolidating global sales, business units and food safety capabilities into a single organisation, to be led by Kocher, focused on increasing cash flow in core businesses and driving value via customer relationships.

Chiquita's commercial operations will nowbe organised around two core business units: Bananas globally and Salads & Healthy Snacks in North America.

The decision comes with the goal of 're-establishing and re-energising Chiquita bananas and Fresh Express salads as the simple core of the company's focus', which Chiquita says willultimately create increased value for consumers, customers and shareholders.

'While these are early days in my tenure, I continue to be impressed by the calibre of the Chiquita team,' said Chiquita president and chief execuitve officer Ed Lonergan. 'Brian is an outstanding CFO, but as we look to consolidate our commercial operations to better leverage our core products, it is clear that Brian has the right experience and skills for the task at hand.

'Brian's financial depth combined with his vast operations experience having been president of both North America and Europe and the Middle East make him uniquely qualified to serve as COO,' Lonergan added. 'As we look to find Brian's replacement, our focus will be on a finance executive with a commitment to our re-focused business strategy in our two core areas and a mindset to drive profitable growth.

Kocher has held various senior leadership positions since joining Chiquita in 2005, including CFO, presidentof North American operations, president of Europe and the Middle East, and vice-president, controller and chief accounting officer.

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