Ocean Spray bolsters executive leadership team

LAKEVILLE, MASS. — Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. said it is strengthening its leadership team as cranberry harvest season begins.

The agricultural cooperative named Kevin Zidron chief strategy and transformation officer and Brad Hartzell chief supply chain officer. Hartzell succeeds Earl Larson, who will retire at the end of the month, the company said.

Zidron is joining the company from Nestle Health Science where he previously was vice president of business optimization and strategy. Zidron’s past leadership roles additionally include vice president of strategy and transformation roles at Vital Proteins and Kraft Heinz.

Hartzell most recently was chief operating officer of beauty and body solutions at KDC/One Development Corp., Inc., and was chief operating officer at NovaTaste prior to KDC.

“At Ocean Spray, we have an iconic brand, an extraordinary fruit, a strong cooperative foundation and talented people across our business,” saidAbigail Buckwalter, who was named president and chief executive officer of Ocean Spray earlier this year. “Our focus now is on bringing those strengths together with greater clarity, pace and discipline to accelerate growth and unlock our full potential. We have an opportunity to build on what makes Ocean Spray unique while creating the capabilities needed for our next chapter. Kevin and Brad bring the leadership and expertise to help us move faster, sharpen execution and deliver on our priorities.”