Blue Diamond Growers president and CEO Mark Jansen has announced he intends to step down from the role he has held since September 2010.
Blue Diamond Growers, a grower-owned cooperative, represents about 3,000 of California’s almond growers.
Jansen said in a news release he is committed to supporting the search for a successor and plans to stay on until a new CEO has been selected.
Jansen said the organization is well-positioned for future growth and the timing is right for him to make the change.
“Together, we have been fortunate to accomplish what we committed to do — and more,” Jansen said in the release. “Helping the great people of Blue Diamond thrive has been an honor and privilege.”
Specific Blue Diamond Grower achievements under Jansen’s leadership include:
- Opening a new 200-million-pound manufacturing facility in Turlock, Calif.
- 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 almond milk brand in the world
- Driving dynamic growth of the flavored snack nuts category that has earned 50% market share in the U.S. 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 release.
Cummings said 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.
