Herb Breen to direct sales operations at West Pak
Herb Breen to direct sales operations at West Pak
Herb Breen, whose nearly 30-year career in the produce industry has included senior management positions at such companies as AmeriFresh, Food Services of America and Del Monte Fresh, has joined West Pac Avocado Inc. in Temecula, CA, where he will be charged with directing all sales for the company, according to Vice President Galen Newhouse.
Mr. Breen was scheduled to start the new job on Monday, Sept. 24, Mr. Newhouse told The Produce News.
Randy Shoup, president of West Pak, said in a written statement that he is looking forward to "this new collaboration." West Pak has had "a long and successful history as a premier avocado packer and distributor, and our expectation is that by bringing in someone with Herb's talent and experience, we will drive the company to the next level in an industry that continues to become more and more competitive."
"I look forward to playing a major role in the future growth and success of West Pak as well as renewing past relationships in the produce business," Mr. Breen also said in a written statement. He said that he accepted the position with West Pak after a two-year sabbatical from the produce business.
As reported earlier in The Produce News, Matt Leonard, formerly sales director who had been with the company for 15 years and in produce for 20 years, left the industry earlier this year to pursue a career in financial planning, which is what he studied in college. Mr. Shoup, the company's president, resumed the sales director function on an interim basis during the search for a replacement for Mr. Leonard.
Mr. Breen said in a statement that he had been urged by a close friend, who had been a competitor of West Pak, to look into the opportunity. "What I found intrigued me," he said. He found West Pak to be a privately held company, the ownership of which "recognized early on how supply from Mexico was ultimately going to drive a large part of future sales" and which had "a commitment ... that food safety is paramount."
The West Pak opportunity also differed from many of the past positions held by Mr. Breen in that "it is an established venture with brand equity and a successful track record over time as opposed to a turn-around situation," he said.
The opportunity to live "just north of San Diego isn't a bad bonus," he added.
Mr. Breen was scheduled to start the new job on Monday, Sept. 24, Mr. Newhouse told The Produce News.
Randy Shoup, president of West Pak, said in a written statement that he is looking forward to "this new collaboration." West Pak has had "a long and successful history as a premier avocado packer and distributor, and our expectation is that by bringing in someone with Herb's talent and experience, we will drive the company to the next level in an industry that continues to become more and more competitive."
"I look forward to playing a major role in the future growth and success of West Pak as well as renewing past relationships in the produce business," Mr. Breen also said in a written statement. He said that he accepted the position with West Pak after a two-year sabbatical from the produce business.
As reported earlier in The Produce News, Matt Leonard, formerly sales director who had been with the company for 15 years and in produce for 20 years, left the industry earlier this year to pursue a career in financial planning, which is what he studied in college. Mr. Shoup, the company's president, resumed the sales director function on an interim basis during the search for a replacement for Mr. Leonard.
Mr. Breen said in a statement that he had been urged by a close friend, who had been a competitor of West Pak, to look into the opportunity. "What I found intrigued me," he said. He found West Pak to be a privately held company, the ownership of which "recognized early on how supply from Mexico was ultimately going to drive a large part of future sales" and which had "a commitment ... that food safety is paramount."
The West Pak opportunity also differed from many of the past positions held by Mr. Breen in that "it is an established venture with brand equity and a successful track record over time as opposed to a turn-around situation," he said.
The opportunity to live "just north of San Diego isn't a bad bonus," he added.
