Chiquita has announced that the company’s board of directors has appointed Brian Kocher, currently the company’s president for Europe and the Middle East, as senior vice-president and chief financial officer. In his new role, Kocher will be responsible for all the aspects of the company’s financial operations worldwide, succeeding Michael Sims.
Nigel Bartle, general manager of British Sugar’s horticultural business, Cornerways Nursery, and chairman of the British Tomato Growers Association, has been named equity partner and managing director of John Baarda following its acquisition by Greenery UK. Under the terms of the transaction, John Baarda’s directors, chairman Andrew Lesser, managing director David Baarda and finance director Adrian Burrows, have all left the company, with Greenery UK now the firm’s sole shareholder.
The Ecuadorean minister of agriculture, farming and fisheries, Staynley Vera, has resigned. The minister is leaving his post at the request of the country’s president, Rafael Correa, after failing to formalise the banana sector.
At French retailer Carrefour’s latest board meeting, Lars Olofsson expressed his wish not to renew his mandate and therefore to relinquish his position as ceo of the group. The board voted unanimously for Georges Plassat, current CEO of Vivarte, to succeed him.
South Africa’s Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum has moved outside the fruit sector to find a new CEO to replace Stuart Symington, appointing Anton Kruger, CEO of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, to lead the organisation.
Purfresh, a market leader in ocean transport and supply chain management technologies, has appointed Dr Brian Westcott as its new president and chief executive officer. Westcott is the replacement for David Cope.
AP Møller Maersk has announced that senior vice-president Lars Reno Jakobsen has been appointed as promoter and coordinator of the group’s business expansion in Africa.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has confirmed that marketing executive Nele Moorthamers has been appointed as its new marketing services manager for Europe.
