| David Roche isn't walking blindly into the top job at
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative.
The longtime sugar industry executive is well-aware of the challenges
facing U.S. sugar beet growers.
But Roche, the new president and chief executive officer at the
Wahpeton, N.D.-based sugar beet cooperative, says there are opportunities
as well.
"Obviously, there are significant challenges facing this industry,
but I believe there is a place for a domestic sugar industry," Roche
said Monday.
Minn-Dak directors voted Friday to hire Roche, said Victor Krabbenhoft,
the cooperative's chairman.
Roche, 54, will start work March 1.
"David, with his experience on both the beet and cane sides,
seemed to be a good fit for our needs at Minn-Dak," Krabbenhoft said.
"He seems to be the kind of man that's going to relate well with our
growers."
Roche, of Savannah, Ga., was managing director and senior vice
president at Imperial Sugar Co. before accepting the top position at
Minn-Dak.
Imperial Sugar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.
The company cited depressed sugar prices and a large national surplus of
the sweetener for its financial woes. The company is reorganizing.
Before going to work at Imperial Sugar, Roche served as the executive
vice president and chief operating officer of the Michigan Sugar Co.
"Sugar beet growers are good people to work with," Roche
said. "They're level-headed and organized.
"I've grown up knowing the beet sugar industry," he said,
"and Minn-Dak has a good reputation, so I thought it would be a good
fit."
Roche is the third president and CEO at the 28-year-old cooperative.
He succeeds Larry Steward, who retired in late September. Steve Caspers,
Minn-Dak's executive vice president and chief financial officer, has
served as the cooperative's interim president.
Minn-Dak is owned by 484 farmers who harvested and processed about 2.1
million tons of sugar beets last year.
The cooperative employs 265 full-time workers. During harvest, the
cooperative supports about 500 jobs, said Patricia Keough-Wilson, the
co-op's communications director. |