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Oppenheimer among ‘Canada’s 50 Best Managed’ firms

February 4, 2009  By The Oppenheimer Group


oppenheimer_awardFeb. 4, 2009, Vancouver — The Oppenheimer Group has once again been
named among Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, earning the prestigious
national award’s Platinum Club member status for the second consecutive
year.

oppenheimer_awardFeb. 4, 2009, Vancouver — The Oppenheimer Group has once again been named among Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, earning the prestigious national award’s Platinum Club member status for the second consecutive year.
 
The full-service produce marketer first achieved the “50 Best” honour in 2001, and has re-qualified annually ever since. The award selection entails a meticulous assessment process that is overseen by sponsors Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, The National Post and Queen’s School of Business. The recognition reflects the previous year’s performance.
 
“We are particularly happy to be recognized this time, considering the complex economic landscape and the unique set of challenges it has brought to companies everywhere, and the fact that we were celebrating our 150th year in business in 2008,” said John Anderson, Oppenheimer’s chairman, president and CEO.oppenheimer_veggies
 
Established in 1993, Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies program recognizes Canadian organizations that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways. Applications are reviewed by an independent judging panel that evaluates how companies address various business challenges, including new technologies, globalization, brand management, leadership, leveraging and developing core competencies, designing information systems and hiring the right talent to facilitate growth.
 
While the award acknowledges solid performance in all of these disciplines, Anderson credits the vision of the company’s executive team, and the passion and commitment of people throughout the company, for Oppenheimer’s achievement.
 
Specifically, he points to the contributions of two of its leaders, executive vice-president Greg Sheldon and senior vice-president Bob Dunlop, who retired from the company in January.
 
“Greg and Bob contributed significantly over the years, especially in the areas of grower relations, technology, sales and operations,” Anderson said. “They helped direct our overall strategy, and their commitment and expertise played a huge part in Oppenheimer becoming the solid organization it is today.”
 
The role of Sheldon, who had been with the company for 17 years, will be shared by Nigel Fripp, who came to Oppenheimer in October 2007 as vice-president of finance, and vice-president and CEO Doug Grant, whose tenure has included various leadership roles over the last 14 years.
 
Dunlop, a 24-year veteran with the organization, is passing his responsibilities to Dawn Gray, senior vice-president sales, marketing, and categories, who officially joined Oppenheimer in January after a two-year stint as general manager at Oppenheimer’s grower-partner ENZA, and David Smith, vice-president of sales, who will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the company this year.

Jerry Smirniotis, in his capacity of vice-president East Coast, will continue to provide strategic guidance to Oppenheimer’s sales and operations in the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. He also directs the organization’s stone fruit category. Smirniotis has been a part of Oppenheimer’s management team since he joined the company in 1990.
 
“By combining the fresh perspective that new talent brings, with the experience of proven Oppenheimer leaders, we’ve created a diverse and highly-committed executive team,” Anderson said. “I’m confident that the leadership of this group will facilitate continoppenheimer_logoued growth for our company, and enable us to serve our customers well by remaining at the forefront of our exciting industry.”

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Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on three levels:

1) Best Managed winner (one of the 50 new winners selected each year).
2) Re-qualified member (repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review).
3) Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years.)

Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of Business. For further information, visit www.canadas50best.com.
 
Founded over 150 years ago in Victoria, B.C., The Oppenheimer Group is a leading North American fresh produce company, sourcing over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables from more than 25 countries and delivering them to retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operators across the U.S. and Canada. The full-service marketer has offices throughout North and South America and relationships with growers around the world to ensure a 52-week supply of preferred produce items, including apples, pears, kiwifruit, grapes, pineapple, citrus, berries, stone fruit and greenhouse-grown vegetables. For more information, visit www.oppyproduce.com.


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