The board of directors for Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. has tabbed James White as interim CEO after firing CEO and president Bobby Chacko for violating the company’s policy against harassment.
Chacko started with Ocean Spray in 2017 and had been president and CEO since March 2018.
Ocean Spray has begun the search for a permanent CEO, according to a news release.
“At Ocean Spray, we have pledged to hold everyone accountable and ensure that every decision is made in the best interest of the cooperative,” Peter Dhillon, chairman of the Ocean Spray board of directors, said in the release. “It should be noted that Bobby Chacko helped to right the ship at Ocean Spray and set us on a new path. However, no matter how valuable someone’s contributions may be, we simply cannot accept a violation of our company policy.”
The company did not say what the violation was.
Previously, White had been chairman, president and CEO of Jamba Juice, according to the release, and also has had executive leadership roles at Safeway Stores Inc., the Gillette Co., Nestle-Purina and Coca-Cola.
White, chairman of the board of Fair Trade USA and a board advisor to Ocean Spray since June, is acquainted with the growth plan for the cranberry giant, Dhillon said in the release.
“This is a time of great positive momentum at Ocean Spray,” White said in the release. “I have total confidence in the team and tremendous respect for the growers and families who have built this extraordinary cooperative over the past 90 years. Together we will keep the business moving forward on the path to success.”
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