Jun 29, 2021

Craig Kelly retires; IFCO appoints new vice president of grower sales

Rick Overholt, an experienced supply chain leader will succeed IFCO veteran, Craig Kelly to serve fresh produce growers across North America. I

IFCO, a provider of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh food packaging, has named supply chain veteran Overholt as vice president, grower sales, for its North American market. He succeeds Craig Kelly, who is retiring after seven years in the IFCO Systems organization.

During his seven years with IFCO, Kelly was the “face of IFCO” with the grower community. His engagement on various committees within PMA and United Fresh have benefited both IFCO and the grower community.

Kelly  has mentored a number of students interested in the agriculture industry during his involvement in the PMA Center for Growing Talent. He intends to stay involved in the produce industry where he has worked for over 20 years and developed many friendships along the way.

“I would like to congratulate Craig Kelly for a stellar career at IFCO and wish him well in his retirement,” Candice Herndon, president of IFCO North America, said in a news release. “We at the company, along with our customers, have benefitted greatly from his leadership and knowledge, and he will greatly be missed by his colleagues.”

To ensure our continued support to our valued growers, Overholt will succeed Kelly in the role of VP grower sales for North America. Prior to joining IFCO, Overholt served in numerous sales leadership roles during his 22-year career at CHEP, most recently serving as National Sales Director – Produce. In that role he led all grower and shipper accounts in the U.S. and Central America, helping to deliver a consistent supply of fresh produce to U.S. retail and food service customers and their consumers.

“I am pleased to welcome Rick Overholt to the IFCO team,” Herndon said.  “He has worked closely with the grower community for many years and is an expert in shared and reusable assets and supply chain efficiency. We will benefit greatly from his experience and extensive relationships with the growers and retailers that trust IFCO RPCs to pack, ship, store and display fresh food.”

In his new role, Overholt will focus on building and growing collaborative, long-term relationships with IFCO’s grower customers across North America, as well as leading the Grower Sales Team to consistently deliver value creation, sustainable growth and improved customer service and loyalty.