Chief Executive Officer

JOB SUMMARY

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic leadership for Calavo Growers, Inc., overseeing all business operations, financial performance, global supply chain activities, vision and organizational culture. The CEO ensures the company's continued growth, operational excellence, ESG leadership, and long-term profitability while upholding Calavo's core values and strengthening relationships with growers, partners, employees, and customers. This role is responsible for managing the senior leadership team, problem-solving, Financial and business acumen.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development, communication, and execution of Calavo's long-term strategic plan.
• Direct and oversee operational performance across all U.S. and Mexico facilities, ensuring quality, food safety, and production efficiency.
• Maintain strong financial oversight, including budgeting, forecasting, profitability targets, and capital allocation ensuring compliance with all regulatory obligations.
• Strengthen global supply chain operations, vendor partnerships, grower relationships, logistics efficiency, and procurement integrity.
• Foster a high-performing organizational culture that emphasizes engagement, accountability, safety, responsible labor practices, and continuous improvement.
• Drive ESG initiatives, sustainability goals, carbon-reduction strategies, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Oversee leadership development, succession planning, and talent strategy for executive and senior leadership teams.
• Identify and mitigate organizational risks, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and international regulatory requirements.
• Build brand credibility and promote the brand globally.
• Serves as the main point of contact for the Board of Directors, investors and other key stakeholders to achieve good governance practices, grow financial resources, and recruit new members.
• Provide regular reports to the Board that highlight organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Represent Calavo to shareholders, media, investors, customers, industry groups, and community partners.
• Provide timely reports, strategic updates, and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
• Promotes a safe, positive, inclusive, respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment that aligns with the company values.
• Serves as a company representative at important public, industry and community events.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field; Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of executive leadership experience in food manufacturing, produce, agriculture, logistics, or similar industries.
• Demonstrated success leading a multinational or multi-site business operation.
• Proven P&L leadership with responsibility for large-scale budgets and operational performance.
• Strong business acumen, with a deep understanding of financial statements and market trends.
• Experience driving organizational transformation, operational efficiency, and sustainable business growth.
• Experience in ESG programs, responsible recruitment practices, supply-chain labor compliance, or sustainability frameworks.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Leadership & Strategic Vision
• Executive-level strategic planning, business foresight, and long-term organizational leadership.
• Ability to inspire, influence, and develop diverse global teams.
• Financial & Business Acumen
• Strong understanding of financial forecasting, budgeting, performance metrics, and cost-control strategies.

• Knowledge of produce markets, grower networks, agricultural cycles, and customer expectations.

• Operational & Industry Knowledge

• Expertise in supply chain management, food manufacturing operations, quality control, and food safety standards.
• Deep understanding of compliance, responsible labor practices, ESG requirements, and sustainability expectations.
• Communication & Relationship Building
• Exceptional communication skills, executive presence, and negotiation capabilities.
• Strong relationship-building abilities with growers, partners, regulators, and investors.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound decisions in fast-moving or complex situations.
• Ability to lead organizational change, resolve challenges, and manage competing priorities.

WORK DEMANDS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this Job it is primarily (sedentary or working in a chilled factory or warehouse environment), the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk or hear; sit for prolong periods and use hands to finger, handle, lift or feel. May be exposed periodically to chilled or warm temperatures within the operation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Calavo Growers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: Calavo is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Calavo are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Calavo will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.