Dole Food announces that CEO David DeLorenzo leaving company to run worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses at Itochu, which recently acquired businesses from Dole

Nevin Barich

LONDON , December 7, 2012 (Thomson Reuters) – Dole Food Co Inc, which is selling two businesses to Japan's Itochu Corp, said on Thursday that its chief executive, David DeLorenzo, will leave to run those businesses at Itochu.
David Murdock, Dole's chairman, will replace DeLorenzo as CEO.

Dole said that Joseph Tesoriero, its chief financial officer, and Sue Hagen, head of human resources, are also leaving the company.

Itochu, Japan's third-largest trading company, is paying $1.7 billion for Dole's worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses, expanding the company's food presence in new markets such as China. {ID:nL1E8KI0TJ]

The deal lets Dole pay down its heavy debt load, and leaves it as a much smaller company just selling fresh fruit and vegetables.

Dole said its shareholders approved the deal on Thursday.

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