Californian-based dried fruit marketer Sunsweet Growers has announced Dane Lance as its new chief executive officer.
Lance, who also serves as the company’s president, has taken on the role following the retirement of Arthur Driscoll earlier this month. Driscoll had served as Sunsweet chief executive since 2004, with Lance crediting his predecessor for guiding the company to record-setting revenue and grower-member crop returns.
“Art's contributions to Sunsweet cannot be overstated,” Lance said in a statement. “His business insight and strong leadership during a period of severe global oversupply has enabled Sunsweet's grower-member returns to consistently outperform the market.”
Lance was appointed Sunsweet’s president in 2012, after spending two decades in leadership roles with the company. Sunsweet chairman Gary Thiara said Lance had been earmarked for the role.
“Throughout his 23 years at Sunsweet, Dane has always shown tremendous drive, insight and passion,” Thiara said.
“His becoming the new CEO reflects careful succession planning by Mr. Driscoll and the Sunsweet board of directors.
“We look forward to a bright future as Dane assumes his new position as president and chief executive officer.”
