The California Avocado Commission has hired food industry veteran Terry Splane to be the organization’s new vice president of marketing, effective March 13. Splane fills the role vacated by Jan DeLyser following her retirement last month.
Splane has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the foodservice and retail channels, most recently as head of partner success and strategy for Impossible Foods.
“We are very happy to have Terry Splane join the team and lead the commission’s marketing strategy and activities,” California Avocado Commission President Jeff Oberman said in a news release. “Terry’s deep experience in the fresh food industry and comprehension of multiple distribution channels including retail, club and foodservice, as well as his leadership in strategy, branding, advertising and public relations, align very well with our marketing program.”
Before working at Impossible Foods, Splane was vice president of marketing for Ventura Foods LLC for more than a decade. There he was responsible for the creation of the strategic marketing process, partner engagement, communications, product training, brand and product management and more. Prior to Ventura Foods, he served as director of marketing for McCormick & Co. for six years, the release said.
“In addition to Terry’s demonstrated marketing proficiency, his industry leadership and mentorship are reasons that we’re confident he will be a great fit with the California Avocado Commission,” Oberman said. “He will be leading a dedicated team of marketers and building upon our legacy of marketing innovation in the exciting avocado category.”
Related: California Avocado Commission’s Jan DeLyser to retire
Created in 1978, the Irvine, Calif.-based California Avocado Commission says it strives to enhance the premium positioning of California avocados through advertising, promotion and public relations, and engages in related industry activities. California avocados are cultivated by about 3,000 growers in the Golden State.
