Valencia, CA – Sunkist Growers recently hired citrus-industry veteran Matt Shekoyan to serve as Vice President of Strategy for the 126-year-old citrus cooperative and its sister co-op, Fruit Growers Supply (FGS). In this new role, Matt is working closely with both Sunkist and FGS to optimize and bring to life the companies’ strategic direction.
“We’re excited to welcome Matt to the team,” said Jim Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer at Sunkist Growers and FGS. “This is a new position within our two cooperatives, and it was created to help us deliver on our commitment to our growers, employees, customers, and consumers. I am looking forward to his contributions in keeping Sunkist the citrus leader and industry innovator for many more generations to come.”
Matt brings more than 20 years of diverse leadership experience in the agriculture industry to Sunkist and FGS. He spent much of his career at The Wonderful Company, serving in various operational and executive capacities in the US and abroad, including Chief Financial Officer of Wonderful Citrus.
Phillips added, “Matt has seen the citrus industry grow, evolve, and redefine itself. He has a deep understanding of this sector of agriculture, and his knowledge paired with his long history and passion for all things citrus is what we call a triple threat.”
Matt was raised in the Central Valley and comes from a family of citrus, grape and almond growers who have been farming in the area for more than 75 years. Matt received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford University. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Matt has lived predominantly in the San Joaquin Valley, lived and worked several years in Mexico promoting California agricultural exports, and recently spent two years with his family living and working in Valencia, Spain, where he enhanced his global perspective about the ag industry.
“I’m thrilled to join the Sunkist / FGS team,” added Matt Shekoyan. “We have a strong global brand, a talented team, and some of the best assets within the ag space. I’m looking forward to build upon our proud legacy and achieve even greater success for our stakeholders.”
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Sunkist Growers is a citrus marketing cooperative, founded in 1893, which is owned by and operated for thousands of family farmers growing citrus in California and Arizona. For more information, visit, www.sunkist.com.
