Westlake Village, California-based Dole Packaged Foods has named Stan Stuka VP of commercial, a new role leading a combined sales and marketing organization.
Stuka will report to Hidehiro Tanabe, president of Dole Packaged Foods, U.S. The company said the role is meant to align brand strategy, pricing and customer execution to speed decision-making.
“Stan brings a strong combination of institutional knowledge, commercial expertise and proven leadership,” Tanabe said. “By bringing sales and marketing closer together, we’re better connecting consumer insights, brand building and marketplace execution to drive growth and deliver Sunshine For All.”
Stuka returns to Dole from Amgen, where he spent about six years in consumer roles, most recently as director of consumer and HPC. In his earlier tenure at Dole, he was senior director of marketing for the shelf-stable fruit and juice business and before that director of marketing for fruit bowls, canned fruit and jars. He has more than 20 years of experience across consumer packaged goods, biotechnology and consulting, including time at Del Monte.
“Returning to Dole was an easy decision because of the team and the opportunity ahead,” Stuka said. “I’ve always believed that when you have the right people, the right environment and a shared goal, great things happen. I’m excited to help build on that foundation, propel Dole’s mission and be part of what’s next.”
Dole Packaged Foods sells a full line of packaged shelf-stable fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit and juices. The company organizes its business in four categories: beverage, snacks, frozen and pantry.
Dole Packaged Foods has been owned by Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. since 2013, when Itochu completed its purchase of Dole’s worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses for $1.685 billion.