Dole Europe is to carry out a significant restructuring of its senior management following the departure of group president Jean-Christophe Juilliard and vice-president Fouad Foukra, according to German trade weekly Fruchthandel.
According to the publication, the company has also drawn up plans to move its European head office from Paris to Hamburg, a move apparently prompted by the recent sale of Dole Fresh UK and Dole France to French importer-distributor Compagnie Fruitière.
Mr Juilliard has been a key member of Dole's management for some time, having headed up Dole's South African division prior to joining the European office with responsibility for its ripening and distribution operations.
Mr Foukra, meanwhile, was appointed as vice-president and general manager for Dole Europe back at the end of December, having previously worked as general manager of the company's Dole Fresh UK division.
The move to Germany, which is now Dole's largest European market, had been expected by several people in the industry for some time and has reportedly been driven by a need to focus more closely on the German market amid a difficult trading situation for banana prices across Europe.
