Dole executive chosen to lead Sun World
Dole executive chosen to lead Sun World
Sun World International LLC, one of California's larger vertically integrated agricultural corporations, announced the appointment of Bruce C. Burton as chief executive officer, effective July 18.
Mr. Burton brings to Sun World an impressive track record of success in agribusiness. He spent 13 years with the Dole Food Co., including eight years as the group vice president for the North American Deciduous Group, with profit and loss responsibility for Doles $130 million North American deciduous fruit business. Prior to that he served for three years as director and vice president of strategic planning and business development.
Additionally, Mr. Burton has significant experience in sourcing fruits and vegetables from countries such as Mexico, Chile and South Africa.
He has also been a successful entrepreneur, having built California Fruit Processors LLC into the largest processor of California-grown brine cherries in the industry, and having developed a consulting and certification business serving the Chilean stone fruit industry, which manages the preconditioning process for many of the larger stone fruit packers in Chile.
Christopher Kipley, a partner at Black Diamond Capital Management, the privately held asset management firm that recently acquired Sun World, stated, "We are delighted that Bruce Burton has accepted our offer to become Sun Worlds chief executive officer. His senior-level experience at Dole, along with his impressive track record as an owner and operator of agribusiness enterprises, make him uniquely qualified to help develop Sun World to its fullest potential."
Mr. Burton commented, Sun World is an outstanding company with great products, a talented workforce and tremendous potential. I look forward to working with the entire management team so that we can continue to serve the needs of our customers, while building upon our leadership position in the marketplace.
Mr. Burton received a bachelors degree from Haverford College and an MBA from Harvard University. He also worked in Latin America for both the U.S. Agency for International Development. Prior to that as a Peace Corps volunteer. He is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. Burton brings to Sun World an impressive track record of success in agribusiness. He spent 13 years with the Dole Food Co., including eight years as the group vice president for the North American Deciduous Group, with profit and loss responsibility for Doles $130 million North American deciduous fruit business. Prior to that he served for three years as director and vice president of strategic planning and business development.
Additionally, Mr. Burton has significant experience in sourcing fruits and vegetables from countries such as Mexico, Chile and South Africa.
He has also been a successful entrepreneur, having built California Fruit Processors LLC into the largest processor of California-grown brine cherries in the industry, and having developed a consulting and certification business serving the Chilean stone fruit industry, which manages the preconditioning process for many of the larger stone fruit packers in Chile.
Christopher Kipley, a partner at Black Diamond Capital Management, the privately held asset management firm that recently acquired Sun World, stated, "We are delighted that Bruce Burton has accepted our offer to become Sun Worlds chief executive officer. His senior-level experience at Dole, along with his impressive track record as an owner and operator of agribusiness enterprises, make him uniquely qualified to help develop Sun World to its fullest potential."
Mr. Burton commented, Sun World is an outstanding company with great products, a talented workforce and tremendous potential. I look forward to working with the entire management team so that we can continue to serve the needs of our customers, while building upon our leadership position in the marketplace.
Mr. Burton received a bachelors degree from Haverford College and an MBA from Harvard University. He also worked in Latin America for both the U.S. Agency for International Development. Prior to that as a Peace Corps volunteer. He is fluent in Spanish.
