Blue Diamond Growers CEO and leadership

Mark was selected by the Blue Diamond Growers Board of Directors to become President and Chief Executive Officer on September 1, 2010. Under Mark’s leadership, Blue Diamond has transformed into a $1.6 billion global branded food manufacturer with sales up +225%, and even greater growth in profitability. Fueling this success was a driving sense of purpose to support the economic sustainability of the 3,000 mostly small, multi-generational farms that entrust Blue Diamond with their year’s work in the form of the almond crop.

With a unique understanding of the branded retail, ingredients and food service businesses, Mark’s career achievements include leading the brand growth for Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Totino’s, Pillsbury, Red Baron, Freschetta, Blue Diamond and Almond Breeze. Prior to joining Blue Diamond, Mark was president of Schwan’s Food Service in Marshall, Minnesota, where he led the profitable turnaround of the division. He also worked for The Pillsbury Company, Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. and General Mills, Inc.

Mark received his MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in 1994. Mark is 2nd Vice Chair of California Chamber of Commerce, former Chair of the Audit Committee and Chair of the International Forum, is on the Executive Council for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is on the Board of Trustees for the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, is on the Board of Trustees for the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Learning, and is a Board Member and previous Vice Chair of the Almond Board of California.

Mark believes eating good food, getting regular exercise and living a healthy spiritual life are the best medicine and critical to a sense of well-being.

Dean LaVallee is a SVP, Chief Financial Officer at Blue Diamond Growers and Member Board of Directors at Frontier Co-op and is based in Sacramento California Area. He has worked as Vice President Finance, International Manufacturing at MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL, INC.; Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis at MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL, INC.; and Manager, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis at Kraft Canada Inc. Dean studied at LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY between 1979 and 1983 and Society of Management Accountant.

Bob Donovan is a Chief Financial Officer at Blue Diamond Growers.