Rich Amirsehhi, chairman of the board of Naturipe Farms, has announced that Bruce Peterson will be stepping down as the firm’s President and CEO.

In a statement, the Florida-based berry grower-marketer said that Mr Peterson will continue to serve the company as a member of the board of directors.

Paying tribute to the work of Mr Peterson, Mr Amirsehhi said that the former Wal-Mart senior vice-president of perishables had successfully re-aligned the internal structure of Naturipe Farms since his arrival in 2007.

“Bruce was brought on board at a critical time as CEO to accomplish several key objectives – he has successfully accomplished those goals and his contributions will have a profound impact on our growth and success in the marketplace,” said Mr Amirsehhi.

“He brought together a skilled management team, directed the implementation of numerous business initiatives and assisted the board in the development of a long-term strategic plan. We very much value his counsel and in light of the organisation’s progress under his leadership, the board has asked him to continue on as a member of the Board.”

Mr Peterson said he was “excited” to join Naturipe Farms’ board of directors, where he would “have the opportunity to continue to contribute to the strategic evolution of the company.”

He said: “During my tenure as CEO we were able to address a wide array of objectives that improved our products and services for customers and built value for our growers.

“We controlled operating costs while increasing sales by nearly 20 per cent. As a board member, I will have the opportunity to provide counsel and insight as the company continues to evolve.”

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