Scott Horsfall, who has been the CEO of the of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement since it was established in 2007, plans to retire next March.
Horsfall’s nearly 40-year career has been focused on promoting California agricultural products.
The group, officially known as the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, was established in the wake of a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to spinach in 2006, and has updated standards for growers over the years. Most of its work in recent years has been focused on romaine, linked to numerous E. coli outbreaks.
The organization has started the process to search for a successor.
“Words can’t describe the amount of appreciation that I and the leafy greens farming community have for Scott Horsfall’s dedication and commitment over the years,” Dan Sutton, chairman of the LGMA advisory board and general manager of the Pismo-Oceano Vegetable Exchange, said in a news release. “Although we are going to miss Scott greatly, we also look forward to the next chapter in this organization’s leadership through our upcoming CEO search.”
Horsfall was the vice president of international marketing for the California Table Grape Commission from 1983-1997 and president of the California Kiwifruit Commission for five years after that. Then he was CEO of the Buy California Marketing Agreement, which promotes fresh produce and other agricultural products through the California Grown program.
After a year as a management supervisor at MeringCarson, a marketing and advertising firm, Horsfall accepted the LGMA position.
He was named to The Packer 25 list of influential leaders in 2010.
The LGMA is using executive search firm Kincannon & Reed to find a successor, and people who are interested can contact Carolyn Schubert at CSchubert@krsearch.net for information, according to the release.
The LGMA advisory board hopes to choose the CEO by the end of November, allowing Horsfall’s successor to work with him in a transition period from January-March.
Related stories:
Scott Horsfall of the LGMA talks food safety work in midst of pandemic
LGMA’s conducting review of food safety practices
LGMA lists steps taken by industry following E. coli outbreaks
