Retired Chairman and CEO Lecil E. Cole steps down from Calavo’s Board of Directors
Calavo Growers, Inc. announced that Lecil E. Cole has notified the Company of his decision to step down from Calavo’s Board of Directors effective March 1, 2021.
Before his retirement in early 2020, Mr. Cole had led the board as Chairman since 1989, and had served as Calavo’s President and Chief Executive Officer since 1999, leading the company through many years of tremendous growth. Mr. Cole had been a member of the Board of Directors since 1982.
“Lee’s contributions to Calavo cannot be overstated. For decades he was an exceptional steward of our company, building on our proud legacy as the first name in avocados. He set the stage for remarkable growth, taking us from a small grower co-op to a $1 billion company, and positioned Calavo to capitalize on the changing landscape for avocados. I feel privileged to have worked alongside him these many years,” said J. Link Leavens, Chairman of Calavo’s Board of Directors. “We extend to him gratitude on behalf of our board, our management, our growers, our employees and our shareholders.”