Fremont, Calif. – Jan. 25, 2011 – Purfresh, a leading provider of clean technologies that purify, protect, and preserve the global food supply chain, today announced the appointment of Mr. John Harnett (pictured left) as senior director, Purfresh® Transport and Dr. Malcolm Dodd (pictured right) as manager, Purfresh Africa.
“As more and more fresh produce is being moved in ocean-going reefer containers, and with consumers demanding fresh fruit and vegetables year-round, the appointment of John and Malcolm will play pivotal roles in our ability to meet the growing global demand for our Purfresh Transport solution,” said Mr. David Bouchard, general manager, post-harvest and transport solutions for Purfresh. “Both John and Malcolm bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, and will be invaluable as we continue to open new markets and capitalize on new avenues of growth.”
With more than 20 years experience in the ocean transportation industry, Mr. Harnett will focus on strategic initiatives and lead business development activities for the Purfresh Transport product line. Prior to Purfresh, Mr. Harnett was director of refrigerated sales for CMA CGM (America) LLC, where he was responsible for all refrigerated sales. During his tenure, he significantly increased reefer import and export production. Prior to CMA CGM, Mr. Harnett held management positions for CP Ships, ANZDL, and Hyundai America Shipping Agency, Inc. Mr. Harnett holds a master’s degree in business administration from Georgian Court University, New Jersey and a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from St. Peter’s College, New Jersey.
“The ocean transport industry is always looking to leverage new technologies for protecting and preserving perishables, while providing enhanced load protection monitoring services for containers around the world. The application science and real-time monitoring services available with the Purfresh Transport solution are the key elements for continued success,” said Mr. Harnett. “I look forward to leveraging Purfresh’s worldwide recognized brand to form new strategic partnerships and expand our global presence.”
Dr. Malcolm Dodd will be responsible for Purfresh Transport market and business development activities throughout Africa, and is a member of the Purfresh Transport Advisory Board. Dr. Dodd joins the company with more than 30 years experience in the agricultural and shipping industries. In addition to joining the Purfresh team, Dr. Dodd is currently an associate professor extraordinaire at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in the Department of Horticultural Science. Before joining Purfresh, Dr. Dodd was a program manager for Post Harvest Innovation Programme, where he was responsible for initiatives and projects designed to improve the global competitiveness of the South African export fruit value chain. Prior to Post Harvest Innovation Programme, he was the cold chain specialist for the Perishable Products Export Control Board and was tasked with raising the standard of the South Africa Export Cold Chain. Previously, Dr. Dodd was a cold chain consultant, and held senior positions at Transfresh Africa (Pty) Ltd. and Unifruco Research Services Ltd. Dr. Dodd holds a doctorate in plant physiology from the University of Natal, South Africa a master’s degree in applied plant sciences from the University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural from the University of Natal, South Africa.
“Purfresh has a strong reputation in the industry for its scientific excellence in reducing decay and extending shelf life of fresh produce shipped around the world,” said Dr. Dodd. “Africa represents a fast-growing market for sustainable and organic solutions for food and agriculture, and the company is poised to gain significant market share in the region with its Purfresh Transport solution.”
Source: Purfresh, Inc.
