Chairman Peter Dhillon is a cranberry grower from British Columbia whose family has been Ocean Spray growers for 35 years
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., a grower-owned agricultural cooperative, today announced the election of Peter Dhillon as Chairman (non-executive) of the Ocean Spray Board of Directors. Dhillon, who has served on the Ocean Spray Board for 11 years, most recently as Vice Chairman, assumed his new role as Chairman at the Cooperative’s March 12 board meeting. Dhillon is a cranberry grower from British Columbia, and his family has been Ocean Spray cranberry growers for 35 years.
“I am very honored to be assuming the chairmanship,” said Dhillon. “The Board plays a critical role in delivering a premium to our Grower-Owners and in advancing the cranberry and Ocean Spray brand throughout North America and the world. I look forward to working with my fellow growers, the employees and Board to continue strengthening our business.”
Dhillon farms just under 800 acres of cranberry bogs in British Columbia and approximately 450 acres in Quebec. Dhillon finished his second term on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Airport Authority, and he also serves on the Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University. He sat on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Organizing Committee where he was Chairman of the Audit Committee. In addition, Dhillon has also sat on a number of other Corporate Boards, including Canwel Building Materials and British Columbia Ferry Corporation.
“Peter has been an important voice on the Board since he joined in 2003,” said Randy Papadellis, Ocean Spray’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As an experienced member of the Board with tremendous knowledge of the cranberry business, I am confident that under his leadership, the Board will continue to uphold its commitment to our Grower-Owners and help us navigate opportunities to promote growth across our business.”
Papadellis also thanked Francis Podvin, outgoing Chairman of the Board, saying, “Fran oversaw one of the more successful periods in Ocean Spray’s 84-year history and has always been a great supporter of the cranberry industry and the employees of Ocean Spray. His dedication to this company and our Grower-Owners has strengthened our business, and I am very grateful for his past eight years of service as Chairman.” Podvin remains on the Board as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
Dhillon also acknowledged Podvin saying, “On behalf of all of Ocean Spray’s Grower-Owners, I want to thank Fran for his years of dedicated service on the Board and specifically for the last eight as Chairman. He has been a strong leader and a tireless advocate and ambassador for our Cooperative and the Ocean Spray brand. I look forward to continuing to work with him to expand our business and grow our brand.”
Ocean Spray’s Board of Directors is comprised of 15 members including Papadellis. Thirteen board members, like Dhillon and Podvin, are Grower-Owners. The Cooperative’s 700-plus cranberry and grapefruit growers elect the Board of Directors.
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 90 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. In fiscal year 2013, Ocean Spray posted gross sales of $2.2 billion and net proceeds of $380 million. For more information visit www.oceanspray.com or our corporate blog at www.insidethecranberry.com
