Naturipe adds key executives
Naturipe adds key executives
Naturipe Farms, a nationwide grower and marketer of berries, has added industry veterans Don Harris and Robert Verloop to its senior management team.
Company President Bruce Peterson announced that Mr. Harris is joining the company effective Feb. 4 as director of procurement and wholesale sales, a new position that leverages Mr. Harris' extensive experience on the buying side of the equation.
Mr. Harris has more than 30 years of experience in the retail sector and most recently was director of procurement for Wild Oats. He was also with Safeway for many years.
"Don will be responsible for all procurement as well as direct sales activities through the wholesale channel," Mr. Peterson said, adding that his many years in retail gave him extensive experience in both of these areas.
Mr. Verloop will join the firm March 1 as vice president of marketing. He has been involved in the produce industry for 25 years and is currently vice president of global marketing and licensing for Sunkist Growers. He has been with other companies, including an extensive stint with the California Avocado Commission.
At Naturipe, Mr. Verloop will assume responsibility for all marketing programs, consumer intelligence, communication, licensing, public relations and government relations. Mr. Peterson said that Naturipe expects to expand its marketing programs and needed a person with Mr. Verloop's experience to lead the effort.
"I've known both Don and Robert for a long time, and I've worked with both of them in various capacities," Mr. Peterson told The Produce News. "I know what they can do and am very happy to have them join the team. This is a team effort."
Mr. Harris will work from his home turf in Colorado, while Mr. Verloop will be based in California where he lives. "At some point in time we may consolidate offices and shift some people around," said Mr. Peterson. "But we are not asking anyone to move at this time."
Naturipe also announced two other top management hires. Joao Felix has joined the company as senior director of information technologies, and Rob Callahan is the company's new senior director of human resources.
"We expect both human resources and information technologies to be areas of revenue generation for us, and we needed leadership in those areas," Mr. Peterson said.
Naturipe will offer these services to its producers and customers, said Mr. Peterson, noting that smaller firms often outsource their human resource and technology departments using generalists to provide those services. As Naturipe expands these departments, Mr. Peterson indicated that growers and other smaller firms can utilize produce specialists for these duties.
Mr. Felix, who began his IT career in 1989, has a diverse background in information technologies and systems installations both domestically and internationally. He will oversee the installation of a new ERP system as well as all IT developments, and his department will provide systems support for all internal operations as well as IT services for producers and customers.
Mr. Callahan recently left GMAC ResCap, where he served as a regional human resources director. He has a broad and extensive background in all areas of human resources and will direct all activities surrounding employment, recruitment, compensation, compliance, benefits, insurance and payroll.
Mr. Peterson, who joined Naturipe last summer after a long and distinguished career at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said that 2008 should be a year of growth and expansion for Naturipe. He indicated that additional hires and new initiatives will be forthcoming.
Company President Bruce Peterson announced that Mr. Harris is joining the company effective Feb. 4 as director of procurement and wholesale sales, a new position that leverages Mr. Harris' extensive experience on the buying side of the equation.
Mr. Harris has more than 30 years of experience in the retail sector and most recently was director of procurement for Wild Oats. He was also with Safeway for many years.
"Don will be responsible for all procurement as well as direct sales activities through the wholesale channel," Mr. Peterson said, adding that his many years in retail gave him extensive experience in both of these areas.
Mr. Verloop will join the firm March 1 as vice president of marketing. He has been involved in the produce industry for 25 years and is currently vice president of global marketing and licensing for Sunkist Growers. He has been with other companies, including an extensive stint with the California Avocado Commission.
At Naturipe, Mr. Verloop will assume responsibility for all marketing programs, consumer intelligence, communication, licensing, public relations and government relations. Mr. Peterson said that Naturipe expects to expand its marketing programs and needed a person with Mr. Verloop's experience to lead the effort.
"I've known both Don and Robert for a long time, and I've worked with both of them in various capacities," Mr. Peterson told The Produce News. "I know what they can do and am very happy to have them join the team. This is a team effort."
Mr. Harris will work from his home turf in Colorado, while Mr. Verloop will be based in California where he lives. "At some point in time we may consolidate offices and shift some people around," said Mr. Peterson. "But we are not asking anyone to move at this time."
Naturipe also announced two other top management hires. Joao Felix has joined the company as senior director of information technologies, and Rob Callahan is the company's new senior director of human resources.
"We expect both human resources and information technologies to be areas of revenue generation for us, and we needed leadership in those areas," Mr. Peterson said.
Naturipe will offer these services to its producers and customers, said Mr. Peterson, noting that smaller firms often outsource their human resource and technology departments using generalists to provide those services. As Naturipe expands these departments, Mr. Peterson indicated that growers and other smaller firms can utilize produce specialists for these duties.
Mr. Felix, who began his IT career in 1989, has a diverse background in information technologies and systems installations both domestically and internationally. He will oversee the installation of a new ERP system as well as all IT developments, and his department will provide systems support for all internal operations as well as IT services for producers and customers.
Mr. Callahan recently left GMAC ResCap, where he served as a regional human resources director. He has a broad and extensive background in all areas of human resources and will direct all activities surrounding employment, recruitment, compensation, compliance, benefits, insurance and payroll.
Mr. Peterson, who joined Naturipe last summer after a long and distinguished career at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said that 2008 should be a year of growth and expansion for Naturipe. He indicated that additional hires and new initiatives will be forthcoming.
