PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Sysco Corp., Houston, Texas
Greg Bertrand was promoted to executive vice president, U.S. foodservice operations, effective July 30, responsible for maintaining leadership oversight for Sysco’s U.S. foodservice operations segment. Bertrand joined Sysco in 1991, and after a succession of senior foodservice operations positions, was named senior vice president, U.S. foodservice operations in 2016.
Maple Leaf Foods, Canada
Gary Maksymetz, chief operating officer, announced plans to retire at the end of September. Maksymetz has been chief operating officer since 2014, where he led a wide range of functions and drove major strategic initiatives. Curtis Frank, who has served as senior vice president, retail since 2014, will assume the role of chief operating officer, effective Oct. 1. In this capacity, he will maintain overall executive responsibility for the company's prepared meats, fresh pork and poultry operations and commercial activities, and lead the development and implementation of strategic business initiatives. Frank maintains over 18 years of experience at Maple Leaf. As senior vice president retail, he led a high-performance North American sales organization and executed several strategic initiatives, including the company's recent brand renovation and U.S. sales expansion.
Borden Dairy Co., Dallas, Texas
Adrienne Chance was appointed to the newly created position of senior director of corporate communications, responsible for internal and external communications strategy. Chance has led the communications team at Topgolf for the past six years, where she oversaw communications through 36 venue openings, two acquisitions and a quadrupling of Topgolf’s workforce. Chance has also worked at Southwest Airlines and T-System.
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Greencore USA, Woodridge, Ill.
Anton Vincent was appointed chief executive officer, effective July 9. Vincent maintains over 20 years’ leadership in the U.S. food manufacturing industry. Most recently, he served as president of General Mills’ U.S. snacks division. Vincent began his career at General Mills in 1993, progressing through leadership roles, including executive roles as president of Frozen Frontier division and president of baking division. His career experiences include leadership roles at MCI Telecommunications (now Verizon) and Fidelity Investments. He is also a former Applebee’s International franchisee.
SUPPLIERS:
Aborn & Co., Norwell, Mass.
Jill Clifford was named president. Clifford maintains over 25 years of leadership experience in a variety of high acting roles with Aborn & Co., including business development, marketing, accounting and customer relations. Previously, Clifford was responsible for expanding her own team with the additions of Chris Peckham as director of operations and Timothy Dooner as director of marketing. She also appointed Caleb Johnson in account management and Nathan Shnipes in data analytics.
Everidge, Minneapolis
Greg Ginther was named business development sales manager for the company’s ICS brand, responsible for developing, implementing and sustaining new sales opportunities for the ICS product lines. Ginther has worked at The New Bakery Co. of Ohio for 18 years, most recently serving as director of sales.
ITC Manufacturing, Phoenix, Ariz.
Mark Briden was named new chief executive officer and chief financial officer, assuming day-to-day leadership of the company and overseeing strategic growth and financial aspects. Briden began his career co-owning an e-commerce company, then moved on to become a financial and operational consultant focusing on financial restructuring and performance improvements and mergers and acquisitions. He also held interim management positions at middle-market manufacturing and construction companies. Briden maintains more than 15 years of finance and executive leadership experience, including serving as interim CFO for ITC for the past year.
SPX FLOW, Charlotte, N.C.
Jeffrey Pato was named district sales manager for Eastern Canada, tasked with further growing the SPX FLOW food and beverage business in that region. Pato maintains a strong engineering background.
SUN Automation Group, Glen Arm, Md.
Chris Kyger was named president. Previously, Kyger served as vice president of SUN Automation Group, where he implemented new systems and a customer-focused approach to innovation and product development. Kyger joined SUN over a decade ago, and maintains over 25 years in the corrugated industry, having also worked for Staley, Langston and United Container Machinery. He has also worked in field service, sales, operations and aftermarket parts and service, and maintains over 20 years of management, customer relationship and technology experience. Kyger is also an active member of TAPPI, Fibre Box Association and AICC, The Independent Packaging Association.
IN MEMORIUM: ARTHUR FRANCIS LA LONDE JR., VALLEY FRUIT & PRODUCE CO.
Arthur Francis La Londe Jr., co-founder of Valley Fruit & Produce Co., Los Angeles, passed away peacefully on July 19.
The son of the late Arthur La Londe Sr. and Aurelia La Londe, Art served in the U.S. Navy at 19 years old, and retired shortly after the end of World War II to attend college.
Art is considered to be one of the pioneers in the Los Angeles produce industry.
Art by Sylvia, his wife of 41 years, his companion, Xiomara and his children Stephen La Londe, Douglas La Londe, Caron Roccanova and Lynn Allen. Art will also be remembered by his brother Donald La Londe, sister Suzanne King, his 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Services to celebrate his life will be held on Sept. 15 at noon at Christ the King Church, 624 N. Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles, California 90004.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 / donors@stjude.org.