Sun World Names New CEO
BAKERSFIELD, Calif -- The new owners at Sun World International, LLC have installed a former Dole Food executive, Bruce C. Burton, as Sunworld's c.e.o., effective July 18, 2005.
Prior to joining Sun World, Burton served at Dole Food Co. for eight years as group v.p., North American Deciduous Group, and three years as director/v.p. of strategic planning and business development.
Burton has additional experience sourcing foreign produce from countries such as Mexico, Chile and South Africa. He has also been a successful entrepreneur, having built California Fruit Processors, LLC into one of the largest processors of California-grown brine cherries in the industry and having developed a consulting and certification business serving the Chilean stone fruit industry.
Christopher Kipley, a partner at Black Diamond Capital Management, the privately-held asset management firm that recently acquired Sun World, said Burton's "senior-level experience at Dole, along with his impressive track record as an owner and operator of agribusiness enterprises, make him uniquely qualified to help develop Sun World to its fullest potential."
"Sun World is an outstanding company with great products, a talented workforce and tremendous potential," said Burton. "I look forward to working with the entire management team so that we can continue to serve the needs of our customers, while building upon our leadership position in the marketplace."
Fluent in Spanish, Burton received a bachelor's degree from Haverford College and an MBA from Harvard University. He also worked in Latin America for both the U.S. Agency for International Development, and prior to that as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Prior to joining Sun World, Burton served at Dole Food Co. for eight years as group v.p., North American Deciduous Group, and three years as director/v.p. of strategic planning and business development.
Burton has additional experience sourcing foreign produce from countries such as Mexico, Chile and South Africa. He has also been a successful entrepreneur, having built California Fruit Processors, LLC into one of the largest processors of California-grown brine cherries in the industry and having developed a consulting and certification business serving the Chilean stone fruit industry.
Christopher Kipley, a partner at Black Diamond Capital Management, the privately-held asset management firm that recently acquired Sun World, said Burton's "senior-level experience at Dole, along with his impressive track record as an owner and operator of agribusiness enterprises, make him uniquely qualified to help develop Sun World to its fullest potential."
"Sun World is an outstanding company with great products, a talented workforce and tremendous potential," said Burton. "I look forward to working with the entire management team so that we can continue to serve the needs of our customers, while building upon our leadership position in the marketplace."
Fluent in Spanish, Burton received a bachelor's degree from Haverford College and an MBA from Harvard University. He also worked in Latin America for both the U.S. Agency for International Development, and prior to that as a Peace Corps Volunteer.