WATSONVILLE, CA - Driscoll’s Chairman and current CEO J. Miles Reiter has announced that Kevin Murphy, the company’s current President and COO, will assume the CEO role effective April 1, 2015. 

“Given our intention to become the world's berry company, we are very fortunate to have a leader of Kevin's caliber,” said J. Miles Reiter. “In his time at Driscoll's and throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated the ability to draw people together in the pursuit of shared goals.

As we’ve previously reported in our sister publication, The Snack, Kevin was born and raised in South Africa, and earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Natal before arriving in the United States in 1989. Soon afterward, he began working for FreshCo, which later become known as Fresh Express, for a little over a decade in various strategic capacities before moving on to Capurro Farms. Kevin remembers his days at Fresh Express fondly, noting that those years were what helped shape who he is at Driscoll’s today. “The reason I’m here is because of everything I learned in those days,” he said.

With more than 20 years of business and agriculture experience, Murphy joined Driscoll’s in 2008. Reiter has worked in several positions for Driscoll’s, first heading supply and operations for North America and then being promoted to serve as President of the Americas business unit. In late 2013, Murphy was promoted to his most recent role of President and COO for the company, according to a press release. 

During his 15-year tenure as CEO, Reiter has led Driscoll’s in advancing key strategic initiatives that have laid the foundation for Driscoll’s global growth. These include the company’s mission and focus on delighting berry consumers, its values-based organizational philosophy, and vision to guide Driscoll’s expansion in markets around the world. 

“I am incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to be Driscoll’s next CEO,” said Kevin Murphy. “Under the CEO leadership of Miles, the company has grown tremendously over the last fifteen years. My goal is to continue shaping our path forward and to focus on guiding the vision, mission and values that are the foundation to our company. I look forward to building an even more exciting future for the next generation of stakeholders.” 

As a fourth generation grower and the grandson of one of Driscoll’s founders, this announcement poises Driscoll’s to ensure the company’s future global brand expansion. Reiter will retain his role as Chairman of the Board, a position he has held since 1988.

J. Miles Reiter continued, “At the core of Driscoll’s mission is a dedication to delighting consumers with the most delicious berries. We seek to bring an extra measure of joy into consumers’ lives and into the lives of everyone we touch."  

Reiter continued that Driscoll's both believes in and supports Kevin’s ability to create a future of which the company can be very proud.

Driscoll's