Blue Diamond Growers president and CEO, Mark Jansen, announced he intends to step down from the role he has held with the agricultural cooperative and global consumer packaged goods leader since September 2010. Jansen has decided to step away after a successful 12-year tenure as CEO because he believes the organization is well-positioned for future growth and the timing is right for him to make the change.
Specific Blue Diamond Grower achievements under Jansen’s leadership include:
- Opening a new 200-million-pound manufacturing facility in Turlock, California.
- Expanding into five innovative new almond product categories.
- Creating a global network of licensee partners for Almond Breeze that enabled it to grow into the largest almondmilk brand in the world.
- Driving dynamic growth of the flavored snack nuts category that has earned 50% market share in the United States and global distribution in more than 60 countries.
- Achieving double-digit compounded annual growth of Blue Diamond’s branded business.
“Mark promised us 10 years and gave us 12, and we greatly appreciate his significant contributions to all the stakeholders of Blue Diamond,” Dan Cummings, chairman of the board, Blue Diamond Growers, said in the announcement. “Under Mark’s leadership, Blue Diamond has transformed into a leading $1.6 billion global branded business and one of the most consistent and fastest-growing food and beverage companies in the world. He has built an incredibly strong and experienced executive team that has delivered healthy year-over-year revenue growth resulting in increasingly superior returns to our grower-owners.”
According to Cummings, the co-op’s board of directors has established a CEO succession committee and is working with executive search and leadership advisory firm, Egon Zehnder, on a nationwide search, open to both internal and external candidates.
“Blue Diamond is a growth company by choice, driven in large part by a complete dedication to a single ‘good for you’ product, vertical integration, extensive partnerships, and a continual investment in marketing and innovation,” Cummings added in the announcement. “This is a phenomenal leadership opportunity for the right executive who shares our strong values and commitment to our loyal growers, employees, and customers.”
Jansen affirmed he is committed to supporting the search for a successor and plans to stay on until a new CEO has been selected and begins working to help ensure business continuity and a smooth leadership transition.
“The Blue Diamond Growers co-op knows how to get almonds from growers’ farms to families worldwide better than anyone,” Jansen said in the announcement. “We’re growing with an accelerated focus on sustainability and a continued commitment to giving back to the stakeholders we serve. As it was for me, this will be a great opportunity for the next CEO, and I look forward to supporting our Board, growers, and work family throughout this transition.”
