Mayda Sotomayor named CEO of Seald Sweet International
Mayda Sotomayor named CEO of Seald Sweet International
Seald Sweet International LLC, a leading citrus marketer based in Vero Beach, FL, announced several high-level executive changes, including the appointment of the first female chief executive officer in its 98-year history.
Mayda Sotomayor, who previously held the title of senior vice president, is now chief executive officer. Ms. Sotomayor was promoted to senior vice president of Seald Sweet in 2004, having been the company's director of import sales since 2000. For 11 years prior to that, she developed the import program of Great American Farms in Pompano Beach, FL.
According to Seald Sweet, Ms. Sotomayor is credited with building Seald Sweet's import programs and positioning the firm as a global leader in the citrus category. She has built transcontinental partnerships with Seald Sweet's parent company, Uni-Veg Group, based in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
Seald Sweet's other senior vice president, David Mixon, has been named chief marketing officer, with oversight of the company's new business ventures.
Since joining Seald Sweet in 2004, Mr. Mixon has driven expansion for the company in Florida, California and Texas. Prior to Seald Sweet, he developed a large citrus import program for DNE World Fruit Sales in Ft. Pierce, FL. There, he was perhaps best known for his innovative approaches to introducing Australian citrus to the U.S. market.
Ms. Sotomayor told The Produce News that she and Mr. Mixon internally agreed on a new management plan, which plays to both their strengths. They recommended the arrangement to Hein Deprez, the majority owner of Seald- Sweet, who accepted the plan.
Additionally, Vitor Figueiredo, who was based at Uni-Veg's Portugal location, has been promoted to chief financial officer of the firm.
In addition to the globally sourced citrus from countries around the world, Seald Sweet also continues to broaden its product offering base with other commodities, such as pears, grapes and blueberries from Argentina, Peru and Uruguay.
Mr. Deprez founded Uni-Veg, which owns produce and floral growing, precutting, distributing and logistics companies in Europe, Africa, South America and the United States. The Uni-Veg Group operates in 22 countries and is among the larger fresh produce distributors in the world.
Ms. Sotomayor said that, for her own career, "Hein has been an incredible mentor. He is one of the coolest visionary people I have ever known. I am lucky to work with him and Uni-Veg. There are things he wants to do in the U.S. I am lucky to be tagging along with him."
In other business, Uni-Veg and the shareholders of Katop? International, based in Rungis Cedex, France, announced Sept. 7 an agreement for the Uni- Veg takeover of the shares and the integration of the Katop? group into Uni- Veg. This deal is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities.
The French firm specializes in the production and distribution of exotic fruit, specialties and value-added products.
Ms. Sotomayor described Katop? as "a very interesting company. Its base is in France, but it also has offices in the United Kingdom. Those are the two countries where we (Uni-Veg) have the biggest gaps in Europe."
Katop? buys or grows 24 million cartons annually of fresh specialty and tropical products in Central America, South Africa, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and other countries. Hass avocados and mangos are the larger-volume items handled by Katop?, according to Ms. Sotomayor, who added, "our group has handled [Katop?'s offerings], but not to the extent of this acquisition."
With new volumes of these items, Ms. Sotomayor said, "I am really excited about the potential for the U.S. market in the near future. This could put a whole different spin on our business."
She continued, "I am not sure what doors will open for Seald Sweet, but I look forward to finding out. It's too early to formulate the next step, but the U.S. is a major market for all of those commodities."
In late September, Katop? executives will be at Seald Sweet for a meeting "to learn more about each other." Ms. Sotomayor emphasized that Katop? "is a major receiver and marketer in France and the U.K."
For Seald Sweet, "citrus will always be our base; our anchor." Ms. Sotomayor said. But the firm is obviously expanding its product line.
Ms. Sotomayor was recently elected as a board member of Mouton Citrus PTY, one of the leading producers of citrus in South Africa and a partner of Seald Sweet.
She is also on the board of directors of Forbel S.A, a totally integrated Uruguayan citrus company owned by Seald Sweet.
Mayda Sotomayor, who previously held the title of senior vice president, is now chief executive officer. Ms. Sotomayor was promoted to senior vice president of Seald Sweet in 2004, having been the company's director of import sales since 2000. For 11 years prior to that, she developed the import program of Great American Farms in Pompano Beach, FL.
According to Seald Sweet, Ms. Sotomayor is credited with building Seald Sweet's import programs and positioning the firm as a global leader in the citrus category. She has built transcontinental partnerships with Seald Sweet's parent company, Uni-Veg Group, based in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
Seald Sweet's other senior vice president, David Mixon, has been named chief marketing officer, with oversight of the company's new business ventures.
Since joining Seald Sweet in 2004, Mr. Mixon has driven expansion for the company in Florida, California and Texas. Prior to Seald Sweet, he developed a large citrus import program for DNE World Fruit Sales in Ft. Pierce, FL. There, he was perhaps best known for his innovative approaches to introducing Australian citrus to the U.S. market.
Ms. Sotomayor told The Produce News that she and Mr. Mixon internally agreed on a new management plan, which plays to both their strengths. They recommended the arrangement to Hein Deprez, the majority owner of Seald- Sweet, who accepted the plan.
Additionally, Vitor Figueiredo, who was based at Uni-Veg's Portugal location, has been promoted to chief financial officer of the firm.
In addition to the globally sourced citrus from countries around the world, Seald Sweet also continues to broaden its product offering base with other commodities, such as pears, grapes and blueberries from Argentina, Peru and Uruguay.
Mr. Deprez founded Uni-Veg, which owns produce and floral growing, precutting, distributing and logistics companies in Europe, Africa, South America and the United States. The Uni-Veg Group operates in 22 countries and is among the larger fresh produce distributors in the world.
Ms. Sotomayor said that, for her own career, "Hein has been an incredible mentor. He is one of the coolest visionary people I have ever known. I am lucky to work with him and Uni-Veg. There are things he wants to do in the U.S. I am lucky to be tagging along with him."
In other business, Uni-Veg and the shareholders of Katop? International, based in Rungis Cedex, France, announced Sept. 7 an agreement for the Uni- Veg takeover of the shares and the integration of the Katop? group into Uni- Veg. This deal is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities.
The French firm specializes in the production and distribution of exotic fruit, specialties and value-added products.
Ms. Sotomayor described Katop? as "a very interesting company. Its base is in France, but it also has offices in the United Kingdom. Those are the two countries where we (Uni-Veg) have the biggest gaps in Europe."
Katop? buys or grows 24 million cartons annually of fresh specialty and tropical products in Central America, South Africa, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and other countries. Hass avocados and mangos are the larger-volume items handled by Katop?, according to Ms. Sotomayor, who added, "our group has handled [Katop?'s offerings], but not to the extent of this acquisition."
With new volumes of these items, Ms. Sotomayor said, "I am really excited about the potential for the U.S. market in the near future. This could put a whole different spin on our business."
She continued, "I am not sure what doors will open for Seald Sweet, but I look forward to finding out. It's too early to formulate the next step, but the U.S. is a major market for all of those commodities."
In late September, Katop? executives will be at Seald Sweet for a meeting "to learn more about each other." Ms. Sotomayor emphasized that Katop? "is a major receiver and marketer in France and the U.K."
For Seald Sweet, "citrus will always be our base; our anchor." Ms. Sotomayor said. But the firm is obviously expanding its product line.
Ms. Sotomayor was recently elected as a board member of Mouton Citrus PTY, one of the leading producers of citrus in South Africa and a partner of Seald Sweet.
She is also on the board of directors of Forbel S.A, a totally integrated Uruguayan citrus company owned by Seald Sweet.
