Driscoll’s announced its chief executive officer succession plans, as J. Miles Reiter, chairman and now former CEO, said Kevin Murphy, president and chief operating officer, assumed the CEO role effective April 1.
During his 15-year tenure as CEO, Reiter led Driscoll’s in advancing key strategic initiatives that have laid the foundation for Driscoll’s global growth. These include the company’s mission and focus on delighting berry consumers, its values-based organizational philosophy, and vision to guide Driscoll’s expansion in markets around the world.
Family owned and operated for more than 100 years, Driscoll’s is poised to ensure future global brand expansion with this organizational announcement. As a fourth-generation grower and the grandson of one of Driscoll’s founders, Reiter will retain his role as chairman of the board, a position he has held since 1988.
“Given our intention to become the world’s berry company, we are very fortunate to have a leader of Kevin’s caliber,” Reiter said in a press release. “In his time at Driscoll’s and throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated the ability to draw people together in the pursuit of shared goals. At the core of Driscoll’s mission is a dedication to delighting consumers with the most delicious berries. We seek to bring an extra measure of joy into consumers’ lives and into the lives of everyone we touch. I can speak for the owners of Driscoll’s that we believe in and support Kevin’s ability to create a future of which we can all be very proud.”
“I am incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to be Driscoll’s next CEO,” Murphy said in the release. “Under the CEO leadership of Miles, the company has grown tremendously over the last 15 years. My goal is to continue shaping our path forward and to focus on guiding the vision, mission and values that are the foundation to our company. I look forward to building an even more exciting future for the next generation of stakeholders.”
With more than 20 years of business and agriculture experience, Murphy joined Driscoll’s in 2008. In a series of successive roles within the company, he first headed North America’s supply and operations before being promoted to serve as president of the Americas business unit. In late 2013, Murphy was promoted to his most recent role of president and COO.
Prior to his time at Driscoll’s, Murphy held various strategic and executive roles with companies such as Fresh Express and Capurro Farms.
Born and raised in South Africa, Murphy earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Natal and his MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.
04/01/2015
The Produce News
