As cranberry harvest season kicks off, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. is bolstering its leadership team. The agricultural cooperative has appointed Kevin Zidron as chief strategy and transformation officer and Brad Hartzell as chief supply chain officer. Hartzell will be taking over from Earl Larson, who is set to retire by the end of the month.
Zidron joins Ocean Spray from Nestle Health Science, where he previously served as vice president of business optimization and strategy. His extensive experience includes leadership roles at Vital Proteins and Kraft Heinz. On the other hand, Hartzell most recently held the position of chief operating officer at KDC/One Development Corp., Inc., and previously at NovaTaste.
Abigail Buckwalter, who assumed the roles of president and CEO of Ocean Spray earlier this year, commented, “At Ocean Spray, we have a renowned brand, exceptional fruit, a solid cooperative foundation, and a talented workforce. Our focus is now on leveraging these strengths with greater clarity, speed, and discipline to drive growth and unlock our full potential. Kevin and Brad bring the necessary leadership and expertise to help us accelerate our progress, enhance execution, and achieve our goals.”