SEATTLE, WA - Audrey Desnoyers’ produce career began in 1998, when she took to the streets in a lime green bug, offering samples of Zespri®’s kiwifruit to the public. This passion and dedication to the brand gave her the reputation of a trusted and effective leader within Oppy, and her impressive track record has only gotten more substantial. Recently promoted to the role of Oppy's Seattle office Sales Manager, Desnoyers will lead the company's Seattle-based sales initiatives.
“I look forward to the new challenges that the Sales Manager role will present, drawing upon my experience and enthusiasm to enable the sales team in Seattle to realize our potential and achieve our significant goals in the market,” Desnoyers said in a press release. “I appreciate the growth opportunities that Oppy has offered me throughout my career in the fresh produce industry.”
Serving as Oppy’s National Business Development Manager since 2015, Desnoyers began driving sales through creative promotion and marketing strategies, while mentoring and managing a high-performing team of outside sales professionals.
“Audrey has a skillset we believe is unparalleled in the industry,” said Brett Libke, Vice President of U.S. Sales. “Her deep knowledge of our products, and her relationships with our growers and customers make her a true asset to our team. She is rising through the ranks of Oppy through incredibly hard work and personal effectiveness and a genuine love for what we do.”
He added that Desnoyers has been a key touchpoint between Oppy and the top 50 U.S. retailers and has established herself as a highly credible leader within the company’s sales and marketing group, as well as its executive team.
Desnoyers fills the position recently held by Category Director Roger Aguirre, who had been Oppy's Pacific Northwest Sales Manager since 2002. With this promotion, Desnoyer will oversee business development, enabling Aguirre to focus directly on the company’s apple and pear strategy.
Backed by a strong team, Desnoyers will report to Vice President of Marketing James Milne, and continue her pivotal role in elevating Oppy’s signature brands—like Zespri Kiwifruit, JAZZ™, Envy™ and Pacific Rose™ apples, Ocean Spray Family-Farmer Owned berries, Divemex, OriginO, Oceanside Pole, and more—at retail across the U.S. and Canada.
“Audrey personifies Oppy’s entrepreneurial spirit,” Milne said. “A natural problem-solver, she inspires others to tackle challenges with creativity and confidence. She’s shaped the business development role at Oppy into a powerful, results-driven resource that stands alone in the industry. She has also contributed at a very high level to Oppy’s numerous product introductions, including premium apple varieties from ENZA and, more recently, Zespri SunGold kiwifruit. We’re excited to see the influence her innovative approach will have on our sales efforts in the Northwest as she moves into her new position.”
Congratulations to Audrey on her new position!
