<p> <strong>Charlotte, NC</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">12.5.12<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Chiquita Brands International, Inc. has named Brian W. Kocher, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Kocher will remain in his position as CFO until until his replacement is announced.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/BrianKocher-OfcPhoto-F1.JPG" alt="12/04/2012" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"While these are early days in my tenure, I continue to be impressed by the caliber of the Chiquita team. Brian is an outstanding CFO, but as we look to consolidate our commercial operations to better leverage our core products, it is clear that Brian has the right experience and skills for the task at hand. Brian's financial depth combined with his vast operations experience having been President of both North America and Europe and the Middle East make him uniquely qualified to serve as COO," said Ed Lonergan, Chiquita President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we look to find Brian's replacement, our focus will be on a finance executive with a commitment to our re-focused business strategy in our two core areas and a mindset to drive profitable growth."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The company, in alignment with the its new strategic direction, is consolidating global sales, business unit and food safety capabilities into a single organization to be led by Kocher. The focus will be on increasing cash flow in core businesses and driving value through customer relationships, according to a press release. Chiquita's commercial operations will be organized around two core business units: Bananas globally and Salads & Healthy Snacks in North America with the goal of reestablishing and reenergizing Chiquita bananas and Fresh Express salads.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.chiquita.com/Products.aspx" target="_new"> Chiquita Brands International</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
