SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif., – Earthbound Farm, one of the nation’s leading organic food companies, has filled the newly established roles of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Human Resources Office (CHRO), and Senior VP Operations and Organic Integrity (SVPOO) with strong internal and external talent to lead and support the company’s aggressive growth initiatives.
In the role of CMO, Earthbound Farm has hired marketing veteran Judy Chen. In this new role, she will be leading all of Earthbound Farm’s marketing programs from product innovation and development to business development, consumer marketing, and communications. Chen’s more than 15 years of marketing leadership includes serving as Group Leader, Marketing and Business Development for Chiquita Brands where she led corporate marketing and business development groups to transform the Chiquita and Fresh Express brands through innovative marketing strategies, new product development and global licensing programs. Prior to that, she racked up marketing wins while working for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Clorox.
“I have long been an organic consumer and am really excited to join Earthbound Farm at a time of considerable growth and expansion,” said Chen. “As consumers increasingly connect what they’re eating with their long-term health and wellness, more and more people are turning to organic. Earthbound Farm is poised to deliver a whole array of delicious, healthy and convenient organic products and to build on the devoted consumer following that we already have in new and innovative ways.”
Sandy Whitehouse has joined Earthbound Farm as Chief Human Resources Officer. In this new role, she will be leading all of the company’s human resources functions from talent acquisition and organizational development to compliance, compensation, and benefits
administration. Whitehouse’s more than 15 years of leadership in human resources includes serving as the Vice President of Human Resources for Orchard Supply Hardware, where she was a member of the senior leadership team and functioned as the strategic advisor to senior leadership. Prior to that role, she held other human resources and operational roles in the Sears organization. Her work at Sears equipped her with extensive experience meeting a diverse range of business needs and working with a diverse range of employees.
“It’s such a great time to join Earthbound Farm,” said Whitehouse. “As we lay the foundation for significant growth, Human Resources will be a pivotal part of the company’s strategy. I’m thrilled to be part of the team and to have the opportunity to contribute to the company’s future success.”
Finally, Will Daniels’s role has been expanded and he is now Senior Vice President of Operations and Organic Integrity. He was formerly SVP Quality, Food Safety and Organic Integrity. Daniels's leadership has been pivotal in developing Earthbound Farm’s industry-leading food safety and organic integrity programs. This move is aimed at unifying Quality, Food Safety and Organic Integrity and the Operations group under Daniels's leadership, bringing that critical focus to all aspects of operations.
“We are thrilled to have added Judy Chen and Sandy Whitehouse to the Earthbound Farm team as we set out with tremendous focus to pursue our mission to bring the benefits of organic to as many people as possible further than even, into new categories and new channels,” said Sweat. “The experience and leadership of all three of these professionals is absolutely key to Earthbound Farm’s expanding success and we’re grateful to have these folks helping us capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.”
# # #
Founded in 1984 on a 2½-acre backyard garden, Earthbound Farm is now one of the nation’s leading organic food companies. Earthbound Farm’s nationally-lauded food safety program is unparalleled in the produce industry. The company offers more than 100 varieties of certified organic salads, fruits, and vegetables grown on over 36,000 acres by 150 independent farmers. Taken together, those organic farming methods will keep more than 11.5 million pounds of conventional chemicals out of the soil, water, and air during 2011 alone. For more information, visit Earthbound Farm’s website at www.ebfarm.com.
Source: Earthbound Farm
