Superfresh Growers has promoted Conner O’Malley to president, succeeding Tim Lane, who plans to retire later this year after leading the Yakima, Wash.-based company for 25 years.
In his new role, O’Malley will lead sales, operations, marketing, production management and grower relations, according to a news release.
“I have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of some industry veterans that came before me,” O’Malley said in the release. “It is an honor to support and work alongside such a hard-working team of men and women. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish in the years ahead, aiming towards the common goal that we share with our grower and retail partners: to increase consumption and feed more people fresh fruit.”
“Conner is a gifted leader and has an unparalleled work ethic. At Superfresh Growers, he has been instrumental in cultivating a team-centric mindset. He is empathetic, a clear communicator, and embraces our culture,” Superfresh Growers CEO Robert Kershaw said in the release.
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“The culture at Superfresh Growers is that of servant leadership. This is when the organizational chart is turned upside down, and the president works to serve everyone else,” Kershaw said. “This culture permeates how we treat teammates, growers, and customers. It takes humility to embrace this culture and genuinely enjoy helping and seeing others succeed. If you truly enjoy seeing your growers, customers, and teammates around you successful, then magical things can happen. Conner thrives in this culture, and I enjoy seeing how others have embraced his leadership.”
O’Malley is an expert in produce, with experiences in farming practices, fruit specifications, manifests, technology and variety development, according to the release, and he specializes in strategic planning for Superfresh Growers and its long-term sustainability.
“He has a unique knack for seeing the bigger picture and planning for the future with people, customers, and growers in mind. As the Kershaw family’s sixth generation and other emerging leaders of this company move into management, he is the bridge to the future,” Kershaw said in the release.
During his time on the sales team, O’Malley built transparent and trust-filled relationships with customers across the Superfresh business, including retail, food service, wholesale, e-commerce, and export, according to the release.
Lane, O’Malley’s predecessor, played a role in mentoring the new president.
“I certainly would not be where I am in my career today without him, and I don’t think I will ever have the knowledge he possesses. His competitive drive will continue to fuel me and many others,” O’Malley said in the release.
