Former Chiquita SVP/CFO now CFO at AdvancePierre Foods | Business

WEST CHESTER, OH (FOX19) - AdvancePierre Foods announced Tuesday that Michael Sims will join them as Chief Financial Officer. Sims most recently spent more than two decades in a variety of accounting and finance roles with Chiquita Brands International, Inc., including the last two and a half years as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

According to AdvancePierre CEO Bill Toler, Sims brings the right combination of strong financial experience coupled with food industry background.

"AdvancePierre Foods has tripled in sales over the last two years, merging with and acquiring strong partner companies which have greatly expanded our quality product mix and distribution channels for customers," said Toler. "Mike's financial leadership with capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and financial operations make him a great fit for our strategic plans in the coming years."

"I am pleased to join AdvancePierre and lead the financial operations of a company that has shown exponential growth in the last few years and is ready to move to the next level," said Sims.

Sims will start with AdvancePierre later this month.

Chiquita President Ferdinand Aguirre said of his former executive, "I want to thank Mike Sims for his tremendous contributions to Chiquita during his more than 20 years with the company.  His leadership and record of accomplishment leave an impressive legacy, and the foundation he helped create will continue to serve us well."

Sims is being replaced at Chiquita by Brian Kocher, an internal hire who joined Chiquita in 2005 and who served as President for Chiquita for North America, and after that for Europe and the Middle East.

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