United Fresh Washington Conference 2019

Brian Kocher
President and CEO
Castellini Group of Companies


Brian Kocher serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Castellini Group of Companies, a full service produce processor and distributor serving over 40% of the United States population. Kocher is responsible for strategy development, long-term planning and day-to-day operations for over 2,600 employees. From April 2015 until assuming his current role in January of 2017, Kocher held the Chief Operating Officer role for Castellini. Previously, Kocher spent 10 years at Chiquita Brands International holding a variety of executive positions. Kocher was the Interim Chief Executive Officer and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Chief Financial Officer responsible for all aspects of the company's financial operations worldwide. Kocher also served as President, Europe & the Middle East, for Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Kocher joined Chiquita in 2005 and became President of North America in October 2007, leading the successful transformation of the company's North American banana and salad businesses. He previously served as vice president, controller and chief accounting officer and has more than 20 years of accounting, sales, finance and business process change expertise, including his previous work experience at General Electric and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Kocher served on the United Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors from 2007 – 2017. He was the Chairman of the Board from April 2015-April 2016. Kocher also served as Chairman for the produce industry’s Good Agricultural Produces (GAP) Harmonization committee and served as co-chair for the joint PMA/UFPA committee on Fair Labor Standards.

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