Driscoll’s said its longtime board member Neil P. DeFeo, has retired after 27 years of service. Berry Marttin, a globally respected agricultural finance leader, has been appointed to its board of directors, the company said.
DeFeo joined the board in 1998, and Driscoll’s said he served as a strategic partner to leadership during a pivotal era of growth. The company said his tenure aligned with its global expansion under J. Miles Reiter, who became chairman in 1988 and served as CEO from 2000 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2024 and now as executive chairman.
“Neil has been an extraordinary board member, trusted adviser, and true friend,” Reiter said. “He brought a sharp, results-driven mindset — pushing us to act boldly and with clarity. His ability to turn consumer insights into business strategy strengthened our brand and market position. I’m deeply grateful for the impact he’s had on Driscoll’s and on me personally.”
DeFeo led the Playtex Products Company as chairman and CEO, tripling shareholder value before its sale to Energizer Holdings. He also held senior roles at Procter and Gamble and the Clorox Company, was the chairman and CEO of Remington Products, co-founded the Sun Products Company and later co-founded Nonantum Capital Partners. Driscoll’s said his board spanned both public and private companies, private equity-backed firms and nonprofits.
Berry Marttin joins Driscoll’s board of directors. Marttin, a global agricultural finance leader with deep farming roots, brings more than 30 years of executive experience across international banking, food systems and sustainability. From 2009 to 2023, he served on the managing board of Rabobank, overseeing key business units including wholesale and rural banking, global food and agriculture, leasing and sustainability, including the Rabo Carbon Bank.
“Marttin’s depth of experience across agriculture, sustainability and finance makes him an invaluable addition to our board,” said Soren Bjorn, CEO of Driscoll’s. “As we scale our brand globally, his insight will help us stay agile, innovative, improve operational efficiencies and ensure the business remains resilient against industrywide challenges.”
Marttin previously held executive roles in Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Curaçao and Brazil, and became chairman of Rabobank Amsterdam in 2004. He also served as president of the European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) and held supervisory board seats at Wageningen University and IDH — The Sustainable Trade Initiative. In 2021, he joined the UN Food Systems Summit Champions Network.
He currently serves on the boards of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Koppert BV, the Rainforest Alliance, and the Hans R. Neumann Foundation, and is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative at New Zealand’s Riddet Institute.
