Lee Cole, president and CEO of Calavo Growers, Santa Paula, Calif., plans to retire in the first quarter of 2020.
Cole told Calavo’s board of directors of his plans on Oct. 24, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The board of directors is “interviewing and evaluating several qualified chief executive officer candidates,” according to the SEC filing.
Cole’s retirement will be effective on the day his successor beings.
Cole plans to continue as the chairman of Calavo’s board of directors, “with a focus on maintaining and enhancing Calavo’s business relationships with its investors and suppliers of avocados and other products,” according to the SEC notice.
His announcement comes about a month after Mike Browne, Calavo Growers’ vice president of fresh operations, announced he was planning to retire in mid-December.
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