The Fresh Connection has named David Nelley as chief commercial officer.
The newly created role forms part of the US-based company's senior leadership team, which also includes chief executive Hank Miller and president Will Mehrten.
Nelley steps into the role after serving as vice-president of retail sales at Apeel Sciences for the past three years. Prior to that he was vice-president of categories and exports at the Oppenheimer Group.
“We are excited to have someone of David's caliber and international produce experience joiningThe Fresh Connection family,”said Miller. “His experience in international produce will play a significant role in achieving the next stage of our growth.”
The Fresh Connection is a distributor and exporter of a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables to customers in more than 35 countries, serving its customers from offices in four global regions.
Nelley has been tasked with building relationships to strengthen new and existing business opportunities with growers and suppliers around the world.
“I am really energised to join the leadership team at The Fresh Connection and feel that it is a great fit with my experience in international produce and leans into familiarity I have with the Total Produce family of companies,” Nelley said.
“Growing up on a farm in New Zealand, my career has focused on taking fresh produce from sources of quality and abundance to meet and expand demand in the market.
“Recently I have heard from the largest retailers in the world that they require surety of quality supply to meet growth plans and that supply chain expertise has never been more vital to their business than it is now. This leadership role at The Fresh Connection allows me to make a meaningful contribution to both as we strive to feed a the world.”
