New additions and positions for Oppenheimer sales team
New additions and positions for Oppenheimer sales team
To strengthen the delivery of its "Expect the world from us" customer experience, Vancouver, BC-based The Oppenheimer Group has acquired a pair of new sales representatives and repositioned two other key members of its sales team.
Phillip Cuccerre brings 20 years of produce industry experience with him to his new role of senior sales representative based in the company's Houston office. Mr. Cuccerre comes to Oppenheimer from Chiquita Brands International, where he started in 1999 as a business development manager for the firm's Houston location. He parted ways with Chiquita as a national accounts manager. Before joining Chiquita, Mr. Cuccerre worked in sales for Houston-based Kalil Fruit & Vegetable, part of Fresh America Corp., for 14 years. He served as president of the Houston Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association in 2004 and 2005.
"Phillip has extensive industry knowledge and account management skills that make him a valuable new member of the Oppenheimer team," David Smith, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. "We look forward to having such a talented and experienced addition to our sales force."
North of the border, Matt Bates joined the sales group Oct. 29 in the marketer's Vancouver office. Before joining Oppenheimer, Mr. Bates worked as a sales representative in the Vancouver location of Saskatoon, SK-based Star Produce Ltd. from September 2004 to October 2007. His varied industry experience also includes a stint as a produce buyer for Sysco Food Services from 2003 to 2004, and an organic produce marketing internship in Costa Rica, where he worked with small growers to help bring their products to Central American retailers in 2001. The program, which was sponsored by the Canadian government, focused on organic citrus, mangos, vegetables and coffee.
Mr. Bates holds a degree in Spanish from the University of Calgary and is currently concentrating on Oppenheimer's Mexican vegetable deal.
"With his experience as a sales person, a buyer and a grower advocate, Matthew has seen many facets of our industry," Walt Breeden, Oppenheimer's Western Canada sales manager, said in the release. "We're confident this background will make him an insightful and valued member of our team."
In addition to hiring new sales staff, Oppenheimer strengthened its sales approach earlier this autumn through changes involving the company's California sales force.
On Oct. 1, Paul Dempsey moved into the newly created role of national foodservice manager, a position in which he will oversee all sales and management of Oppenheimer's foodservice accounts. Mr. Dempsey has been with Oppenheimer since 2001, working as sales representative and foodservice key account manager in the company's Los Angeles office. The new position moved Mr. Dempsey to the marketer's Chicago location, where he can better serve the needs of foodservice customers across the nation. Mr. Dempsey will also represent the company's product line to accounts in the eastern Canadian markets of Toronto and Montreal.
Ben Vallejo, another Oppenheimer employee, has been promoted to the role of sales representative in the company's Los Angeles office. Mr. Vallejo's new role, effective Oct. 1, utilizes his extensive product and organizational knowledge gained through nine years working for the company, most recently as quality-control manager for the West Coast region.
"These personnel changes strengthen and reinforce Oppenheimer's plans for growth, both internally and externally, and couldn't come at a better time," John Anderson, president and chief executive officer, said in the release. "We look forward to another busy winter with these excellent team members in their new positions as our Chilean, Mexican greenhouse and Washington apple deals are ramping up considerably."
Phillip Cuccerre brings 20 years of produce industry experience with him to his new role of senior sales representative based in the company's Houston office. Mr. Cuccerre comes to Oppenheimer from Chiquita Brands International, where he started in 1999 as a business development manager for the firm's Houston location. He parted ways with Chiquita as a national accounts manager. Before joining Chiquita, Mr. Cuccerre worked in sales for Houston-based Kalil Fruit & Vegetable, part of Fresh America Corp., for 14 years. He served as president of the Houston Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association in 2004 and 2005.
"Phillip has extensive industry knowledge and account management skills that make him a valuable new member of the Oppenheimer team," David Smith, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. "We look forward to having such a talented and experienced addition to our sales force."
North of the border, Matt Bates joined the sales group Oct. 29 in the marketer's Vancouver office. Before joining Oppenheimer, Mr. Bates worked as a sales representative in the Vancouver location of Saskatoon, SK-based Star Produce Ltd. from September 2004 to October 2007. His varied industry experience also includes a stint as a produce buyer for Sysco Food Services from 2003 to 2004, and an organic produce marketing internship in Costa Rica, where he worked with small growers to help bring their products to Central American retailers in 2001. The program, which was sponsored by the Canadian government, focused on organic citrus, mangos, vegetables and coffee.
Mr. Bates holds a degree in Spanish from the University of Calgary and is currently concentrating on Oppenheimer's Mexican vegetable deal.
"With his experience as a sales person, a buyer and a grower advocate, Matthew has seen many facets of our industry," Walt Breeden, Oppenheimer's Western Canada sales manager, said in the release. "We're confident this background will make him an insightful and valued member of our team."
In addition to hiring new sales staff, Oppenheimer strengthened its sales approach earlier this autumn through changes involving the company's California sales force.
On Oct. 1, Paul Dempsey moved into the newly created role of national foodservice manager, a position in which he will oversee all sales and management of Oppenheimer's foodservice accounts. Mr. Dempsey has been with Oppenheimer since 2001, working as sales representative and foodservice key account manager in the company's Los Angeles office. The new position moved Mr. Dempsey to the marketer's Chicago location, where he can better serve the needs of foodservice customers across the nation. Mr. Dempsey will also represent the company's product line to accounts in the eastern Canadian markets of Toronto and Montreal.
Ben Vallejo, another Oppenheimer employee, has been promoted to the role of sales representative in the company's Los Angeles office. Mr. Vallejo's new role, effective Oct. 1, utilizes his extensive product and organizational knowledge gained through nine years working for the company, most recently as quality-control manager for the West Coast region.
"These personnel changes strengthen and reinforce Oppenheimer's plans for growth, both internally and externally, and couldn't come at a better time," John Anderson, president and chief executive officer, said in the release. "We look forward to another busy winter with these excellent team members in their new positions as our Chilean, Mexican greenhouse and Washington apple deals are ramping up considerably."
