OXNARD, CA - Even more appointments rain down upon us with the latest announcement coming out of Mission Produce™. The avocado supplier named John Pawlowski to the role of President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2024.

“I am thrilled to join Mission Produce as a global leader with a strategic vision to drive avocado consumption across the globe,” said Pawlowski. “With Mission’s unparalleled positioning, advanced global infrastructure, and world-class team, there are endless opportunities to leverage the company’s assets for accelerated growth. I look forward to applying my expertise in market access and operational design to help optimize Mission’s operations and deliver value for its customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.”

Steve Barnard will continue to serve as Mission Produce’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.

“John is an exceptional leader who brings a passion for innovation that strongly aligns with the long-term goals of Mission Produce as a market leader,” Barnard adds. “With his comprehensive background in the international food industry and impressive track record of driving businesses to new heights, I believe his skill set will greatly contribute to our continued growth as we work to enhance our operating strategies to maximize shareholder value.”

As a press release outlined, Pawlowski is an accomplished executive leader with over 25 years' worth of experience in business development, system optimization, and executive team management. He has a proven track record of leading international market growth strategies in large global organizations such as J.M. Smucker, where he progressed over more than 16 years in a variety of leadership positions. This culminated with a post as Vice President of International.

Most recently, Pawlowski served as the President and COO of Lipari Foods, where he was responsible for leading M&A and organic growth, expanding the company’s national distribution, and designing operational strategy. In this new role, he will leverage his international expertise in process improvement, logistics, and organizational design to build results-driven teams that demonstrate growth.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Miami University.

Congratulations to John Pawlowski on this incredible new appointment!