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Neil McCann, the former chairman and chief executive of Ireland-based tropical fresh produce importer Fyffes, has died aged 87. McCann, who retired in 2005 having worked with the business for 55 years, played a major role in building the company into a truly multinational player in the global fresh produce market.

Ronan Lennon, managing director of the Capespan Group's UK subsidiary, Capespan International Ltd, will leave the company in October. Lennon’s departure from the group was confirmed in Cape Town by Louis Kriel, CEO of Capespan’s Fruit Division, who said that the Capespan Group was sad to see him leave the company after a long career with both Capespan and its predecessor, and confirmed that former Univeg executive Alan Forrester would take over from Lennon.

One of the most senior executives at South African fresh produce export company Capespan has confirmed he is leaving the company. Wikus Hellman, currently managing director of Capespan South Africa, told Eurofruit he had submitted his resignation to the group’s directors and revealed he would be joining Green Marketing, a major of exporter of deciduous and citrus fruit, as of 1 November 2011.

Hortiberia managing director Fermín Sánchez has announced his departure from the Spanish fresh produce export consortium and the establishment of a new export venture called Gruventa. In conjunction with two other former Hortiberia directors, Teodoro Hernández and Isaac Murcia, Sánchez said he had opened the new company, based in Lorquí, Murcia, to focus on “high quality” products.

Spanish citrus industry association Intercitrus has announced the appointment of Felipe Juan as its new president, succeeding the outgoing Juan Safont, president of Anecoop, in the post.

Three new directors have been appointed to Fresh Produce Consortium’s non-executive council, including Nigel Harris, CEO of Fresh Direct Holdings, Jim Jefcoate, of International Produce Limited, and QV Foods director Simon Martin.