The Colombia Avocado Board (CAB) is excited to announce the hiring of Manuel Michel as its new executive director. Michel assumes the role today and takes the reins from William Watson who has been acting director and was instrumental in establishing the organization.
Most recently, Michel served as executive director of the National Mango Board, where he has helped guide growth since 2014. During his tenure, he has administered a national research and promotion program, increased volume, awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the United States.
“This is an exciting time to join the Colombia Avocado Board”, said Michel. “I have an unwavering dedication to enhancing lives through agriculture development and trade. My commitment is rooted in the profound impact ag development can have on the livelihood of farmers, local communities and consumers and I see that reality at work in Colombia. I am eager to highlight the benefits and advantages of Colombian avocados and be a champion for the board’s mission and vision.”
Colombian avocado production has grown immensely over the last two years with orchard numbers more than tripling, resulting in the production of nearly 25 million pounds during the 2023 season. The warm climate and fertile soils make Colombia a year-round global Hass avocado producer and exporter with an increasing global sales footprint.
Michel comes to CAB with a long history in agriculture, organizational administration and food safety dating back over 25 years. This includes a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Oregon State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University along with a license from the State Bar of Texas.
“We’re thrilled to have Manuel and his special skill set join CAB,” said Ricardo Uribe, chairman. “It was vital that we brought the right person into this role, and we appreciate William supporting us in our operational start-up until we could. It’s clear that Manuel understands this opportunity with his past experience growing new organizations along with his international experience as we grow Colombian avocado exports to the U.S. We’re eager for Manuel’s leadership and innovative ideas that will help us accelerate our program.”
For more information:
William Watson
Colombia Avocado Board
[email protected]
Melinda Goodman
Tel: +1 (414) 469-5524
[email protected]
https://avocadoscolombia.com/
