Chiquita Brands International's new owners Cutrale-Safra have appointed a European food industry veteran and a Brazilian banking expert to their executive team.

In a Form 8-K filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, the company said 62-year-old Andrew J. Biles would be the new chief executive officer for Chiquita's banana and pineapple businesses, while 46-year-old Danilo Santos would be its chief financial officer.

Biles was the chief operating officer of the Dole Food Company's European operations between 1992 and 1998, before he became CEO of soft drink and juice company Gerber Emig Global, which merged with Refresco in November, 2013.

During his tenure at Gerber Emig, Biles was also chairman of Turkish processed food and soft drink company Frigo-Pak Gıda Maddeleri San. ve Tic. A.S. until 2012, and was also a director of private investment group Hanover Acceptances from 1999 to 2014.

He also served as president of the European Fruit Juice Association from 2004 until the start of this year.

Santos had worked at Banco Safra in São Paulo since 2013 where he held several positions including risk and finance executive, managing director and chief data officer.

"Safra Bank [sic] is a company of the Safra Group and is ultimately wholly-owned by Mr. Joseph Yacoub Safra, who also ultimately jointly owns Cavendish Global Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales and an indirect parent of the Company," Chiquita said in the form.

"Prior to his work at Safra Bank [sic], Mr. Santos worked for 13 years at Banco Itaú BBA, where he held senior positions in the areas of Risk Management, MIS and Planning and Credit Portfolio Management.

"Mr. Santos has over 25 years of experience working in the financial and banking industries. He received an MBA in Global Banking from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom."

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