Merger derails on leadership, vision differences

07/17/2012 06:25:00 PM
Tom Karst

(UPDATED COVERAGE, July 18) Failing to agree when it counted, the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association saw 18 months of work go for naught when the two groups ended merger negotiations July 13.

While United Fresh leaders say PMA’s insistence that Bryan Silbermann be appointed the new chief executive officer of a merged association was the only reason a merger didn’t happen between the two associations, PMA merger task force chairman Mike O’Brien, immediate past PMA chairman, said there was no place for blame in the negotiations.

“Honestly I believed that we would be able to accomplish a merger and that PMA and United would be stronger working together, however, in the end we weren’t able to accomplish this,” O’Brien said July 18.

“Our goal is to move forward and do what is right for the membership of PMA,” said O’Brien, vice president of produce and floral for Schnuck Markets Inc., St. Louis.

On July 17,  United Fresh leaders said that the leadership issue stood in the way of the merger.

“The joint task force negotiated all other provisions except for one and couldn’t come to agreement ... on the future leadership of the new association,” said David Krause, president of Paramount Citrus, Delano, Calif., and chairman of United Fresh.

O’Brien said he couldn’t say that PMA’s insistence on Silbermann as the leader of the new group was the only reason the merger didn’t happen.

“From where I stand, it is not about Bryan Silbermann or Tom Stenzel. This is a symptom of two different of visions of what one combined association might be.”

PMA’s board felt having the most powerful and sustainable single association demanded the leadership of Silbermann, O’Brien said, noting that PMA and United Fresh agreed in February 2011 to the principle of selecting the chief executive officer of the merger group in advance.

While the leadership issue was identified early on as a potential problem for the negotiations, the process stalemated within the task force and later with the groups’ full boards, Krause said.

PMA’s board proposed June 29 a plan to install its CEO, Silbermann, as chief executive of the merged group, Stenzel said. The United Fresh board rejected that July 6 and countered with a proposal that would have left the position open until the 40-member board for the merged association was in place.

Comments (4) Leave a comment 

to me the issue is simple: where did united go the last 15 years under stenzel and where has pma gone under siberman??

As previously mentioned our industry needs trade associations that only protect and
promote the interests of licenced USA produce businesses.
Organizaions that create domestic employment and in turn their members pay the
appropriate USA income taxes.
So the question is, which of the two associations has always made
sure the USA business welfares have been continiously sheltered and endorsed.
You know the answer.

This comment has been deleted.

I am completely disappointed in the United Fresh response of pulling out because of PMA'a request to have Brian Silberman as the CEO of the combined group. In my opinion Mr. Silberman is the correct choice for the combined group. I have the upmost respect for Tom Stenzel, however the merged group needs the marketing and thrust that Mr. Silberman brings to the table. Mr. Stenzel, in my opinion, brings value and expertise to the political arena - and we need that as well - however, as in any organization there are those who are the "sails" and those who are the "rudders" - we need both and we all need to recognize which one we are to move forward.