Darigold, Inc. has announced the departure of Chief Executive Officer Joe Coote, with Board Chairman Allan Huttema stepping in as the Interim CEO. Coote, who assumed the CEO role in January 2022, is set to return to his native Australia. Huttema assumes the role of interim CEO with immediate effect.
“As I take on the role of Interim CEO, I’m fortunate to have an incredibly capable leadership team in place, comprised of seasoned Darigold veterans and newer leaders with successful track records in the dairy and consumer packaged goods sectors,” stated Huttema. “Our company operates across two divisions – business to business and business to consumer – each overseen by proficient leaders. I have complete confidence in our team and organizational structure to uphold our commitment to serving customers as expected.”
Darigold, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, serves as the marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA) and is owned by nearly 300 family-owned farms across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Handling approximately 10 billion pounds of milk annually, Darigold produces a comprehensive range of dairy products for retail, food service, commodity, and specialty markets. Operating 11 plants in the Northwest and satellite offices in Mexico City, Mexico, and Shanghai, China, Darigold is currently constructing a 12th plant in central Washington, which is expected to commence operations in 2024. Darigold is deeply engaged in a multi-year transformation aimed at modernizing and globalizing its operations.
Coote joined Darigold three years ago as President of its International Ingredients division and later advanced to the CEO role in 2022. His extensive 12-year experience in the global dairy sector positioned him to lead Darigold during a crucial phase of growth and modernization.
“Joe assumed the CEO role during a critical phase of our growth and modernization journey,” Huttema remarked. “Under his leadership, we made significant strides, commencing construction on our Pasco facility, initiating the migration of our business systems, and initiating a culture focused on operational excellence. We appreciate Joe’s contributions during his tenure at Darigold and wish him the very best for his future endeavors.”
Huttema, a longstanding member of Darigold’s Board of Directors for nine years and a farmer-owner among the company’s 300 farmer-owners brings a unique perspective with his extensive board experience and active involvement in dairy farming in Idaho.
Recent steps by Darigold to strengthen its leadership team include appointing Presidents for its Business to Consumer and Business to Business divisions, welcoming Dan Hofmeister from the consumer packaged goods sector, and Chris Rowe from the dairy industry. Additionally, the company has named Dan Bukowski as the new Senior Vice President of Sales to support its growth initiatives.
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