Chiquta Brands International has named Rick Frier as its new chief financial officer as the US fruit group looks to turn around its struggling operations.

Frier replaces Brian Kocher, who was prompted to chief operating officer at the US banana group in Decembner.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Frier joins Chiquita from marketing consultants Catalina Marketing Corp., where he served as CFO.

Commenting on the appointment, Chiquita CEO Ed Lonergan highlighted Frier’s background in finance and operations as well as his experience in “turnaround situations”.

In March, Chiquita booked an annual loss of over US$400m after impairment charges and other expenses hit the company’s bottom line. Net sales dropped 1.9% to $3.08bn as banana revenues slid 2% to $2bn after a product supply surcharge in North America.

Lonergan told analysts Chiquita was starting to see the results of restructuring initiatives but would continue to drive costs down in a bid to be more competitive.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now