Gotham Greens names new CEO
Gotham Greens names new CEO
Gotham Greens announced a new leadership structure designed to ensure continuity and position the company for its next phase of growth. Viraj Puri, who co-founded Gotham Greens and has served as CEO since 2008, will assume the role of executive chairman. In this new capacity, Puri will continue to guide and advise the company’s board of directors and leadership team on long-term strategy and growth. Craig Stevenson’s appointment as CEO comes as Gotham Greens celebrates its 15th anniversary in market with record growth, expanded national distribution and a rapidly diversifying product portfolio that is reshaping the refrigerated food aisle.
Stevenson brings extensive experience scaling purpose-driven food and consumer brands, with a proven track record of driving commercial growth, operational excellence and category leadership. Stevenson most recently served as CEO of Lundberg Family Farms. The CPG and agriculture industry veteran began his career at Procter & Gamble. He later joined The Clorox Co. and served in a variety of sales, marketing and international senior leadership roles, including leading the Burt’s Bees business. He also served as CEO of Scholl’s Wellness Company.
“Craig is an experienced executive and thoughtful leader with a track record of transforming and growing brands that consumers love,” said Puri. “As Gotham Greens enters its next phase of growth, I’m confident Craig is the right person to lead the company forward, deepen our retail partnerships, and innovate across packaged salads and fresh foods while staying true to our mission of transforming how and where fresh food is grown. We started out nearly two decades ago driven by a bold idea: to grow fresher, better-tasting salad greens closer to where people live. Today, we’re proud to be an industry leader in indoor farming and one of the most innovative greenhouse producers in the country. Our market share continues to grow 15 percent year-over-year, supported by a strong, recognizable brand built on freshness, flavor and reliability.”
Gotham Greens’ vertically integrated business model — combining advanced, high-tech greenhouse operations nationwide with consumer packaged goods innovation — has become a powerful engine for growth. Under Puri’s leadership, the company pioneered a new market segment of greenhouse-grown leafy greens and built a nationally recognized brand that is beloved by consumers and retailers across the country. Gotham Greens has grown from a single urban rooftop greenhouse in Brooklyn, NY, in 2011, to a national network of greenhouses and distribution spanning coast-to-coast, helping to redefine the fresh produce aisle with locally grown, pesticide-free salad greens and herbs and an expanding portfolio of value-added food products.
“I’m honored and humbled to join Gotham Greens at such an exciting moment in its journey,” said Stevenson. “Gotham Greens has built an incredible brand and platform rooted in innovation, quality and sustainability. I look forward to working with Viraj and the entire team to expand our impact, bring more fresh food to more people, and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fresh, sustainable food.”
