PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:
Farmer John, Vernon, Calif.
Lidwina van Kooten was appointed director of marketing, responsible for formulating the marketing strategies for all Farmer John products and working closely with the sales team to build growth with retailers and consumers.
Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Charlotte, N.C.
Brian Kocher, the company's chief financial officer, was named to the newly created position of chief operating officer, responsible for increasing cash flow in core businesses and driving value via customer relationships. Kocher has held various senior leadership positions since joining Chiquita in 2005, and has more than 18 years of accounting, sales, finance and business process change expertise. Kocher will remain in his CFO position until a replacement is named.
JBS USA, Greeley, Colo.
William Van Solkema was appointed president of JBS Canada, effective immediately. Van Solkema, the former president of sales and operation for XL Foods, Inc. In October, JBS USA announced an agreement with XL Foods to manage the XL Lakeside facility in Brooks, Alta., Canada, and an exclusive option to purchase XL properties from Tyson Foods, Inc., including the Lakeside beef packing plant, a beef packing plant in Calgary, a feedlot in Brooks, Alta., and the adjacent farmland acreage, a beef packing plant in Omaha, Neb., and a beef packing plant in Nampa, Idaho.
Bar-S Foods, Phoenix, Ari.
Warren Panico was named president and CEO, succeeding Tim Day, who will remain as chairman of the company's board of directors. Day has worked for Bar-S since it was founded in 1981. Panico was elected last year to serve as president and COO.
Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., Canton, Mass.
Maryanne Knott will serve as vice president of tax, responsible for the company’s foreign, federal, state and local tax strategies. Knott joins Dunkin' Brands from Deloitte Tax LLP of Boston, where she served for more than 12 years in a number of roles, most recently as director. Meanwhile, Susan Scherer was appointed regional vice president of the South Central region, providing support to the company’s franchisees and field teams throughout the South Central United States. Dunkin' Brands also promoted Weldon Spangler to vice president, operations U.S. and Canada, responsible for leading field operations team. Jesse Schlueter was promoted to vice president, global learning, responsible for developing new ways to deliver innovative learning programs for company franchisees, restaurant managers and field employees.
SUPPLIERS:
Cambridge Engineered Solutions, Cambridge, Md.
Marcel Kloesmeijer joined as an international business director of The Netherlands office, responsible for expanding relationships with agents, OEMs and end-users, developing international manufacturing opportunities through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.
The Greenbrier Cos., Lake Oswego, Ore.
Martin Graham joined as executive vice president of materials management, engineering and operations for Greenbrier Manufacturing North America, effective Jan. 2, 2013. Graham will be responsible for engineering, purchasing and production control functions, and is expected to lead improvements across Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing platform and drive execution and margin enhancement.
Intelligrated, Cincinnati
Mike McCarthy was appointed sales account manager, responsible for supporting clients within the company’s distribution and fulfillment business. McCarthy brings more than 15 years of combined material handling, industrial and engineering experience.
ROM Corp., Belton, Mo.
On the heels of three acquisitions, Don Fishel was named vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for leading the sales, customer service, marketing and product management teams. Fishel brings more than 20 years of manufacturing and industrial experience.
