LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1999--A former President and Chief Operating Officer of Ralston Purina International has been selected as interim Chief Operating Officer for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., starting Oct. 4.
Dean A. Mefford, 58, a 30-year veteran of Ralston, has been hired following a nationwide search lead by the Board of Directors and Management.
Last month, Ocean Spray began the process of securing an interim COO to work with CEO Thomas E. Bullock and the rest of the cooperative's management team on day-to-day business issues. Mefford will assist management in following through on current business plans and addressing key operational issues.
Mefford will report directly to Bullock. All key business operation functions will report to Mefford in the interim, including marketing and manufacturing.
``Given some of the critical supply chain and marketing issues we now face, we are fortunate to have someone of Dean's caliber and background to tighten our focus on the work at hand,'' said Bullock. ``He has a proven track record of providing vision and leadership to grow existing businesses, start new businesses and turn around under-performing businesses.''
Following his 30-year run at Ralston, where he rose from management trainee to a series of top-level posts, Mefford, in 1994, went on to become President and CEO of Chicago-based Viskase Corporation, a world leader in the manufacturing of cellulose packaging and specialty plastics for the food industry.
Since announcing his retirement in June, Bullock continues to work with the CEO Search Committee to review possible candidates. A new CEO is not expected to be named until 2000.
Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by 920 cranberry and citrus growers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With annual sales of about $1.5 billion, Ocean Spray is the nation's number-one brand of canned and bottled juice drinks.