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Driscoll’s Announces Brie Reiter Smith to Assume Full-Time Role as Vice Chair

via Business Wire

Fourth-generation leader continues the Reiter family’s legacy of stewardship and leadership within Driscoll’s

Driscoll’s Board of Directors had selected Brie Reiter Smith to serve as its next Vice Chair in March of 2025. Effective January 2026, Smith will formally step into the role full-time. Smith is the daughter of J. Miles Reiter, who will continue in his role as Executive Chairman of the Board. In her new capacity, Smith will take on a range of responsibilities including principal interaction with shareholders, participation in agenda development, meeting planning, and leading specific aspects of board meetings. She already plays an important role in representing both family ownership and management to the people of Driscoll’s and its broader community.

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Smith has had a remarkable 14-year career within Driscoll’s. She and her husband, Brian, began as blueberry farm workers and later became growers in Chile. When Driscoll’s operations in Chile faced significant challenges, she was asked to take over as Managing Director, where she led the turnaround of a loss-making business to break-even performance, while also helping to establish Driscoll’s operations in Peru.

Upon returning to the United States, Smith assumed leadership of the U.S. Northern District during a time of crisis, restoring trust with growers through her frank and transparent approach. She later led a redesign of the company’s quality system, creating economic incentives for better-tasting berries and improving the speed and clarity of feedback to growers. For the past four years, she has led the Product Leadership team at Driscoll’s of the Americas, where she redefined the role and created a blueprint now being adopted across the enterprise and with grower partners.

“Brie has demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience, and vision throughout her career,” said J. Miles Reiter, Executive Chairman of the Board. “Her ability to navigate complex challenges while staying grounded in our company’s values makes her uniquely qualified for this role. Brie’s appointment as Vice Chair is a natural progression, and I have every confidence in her continued impact on Driscoll’s future. As her father, my wife Rosanne and I are so proud of Brie and what she has brought to our common effort.”

“Brie’s full-time transition to Vice Chair comes at a pivotal time for Driscoll’s. As we continue to scale globally and embrace innovation, her deep understanding of our culture and her ability to connect with growers and leaders across regions will be invaluable,” said Soren Bjorn, Chief Executive Officer of Driscoll’s. “Brie brings continuity to our mission and a forward-looking perspective that will help us navigate the challenges ahead while staying true to the principles that have guided us for generations.”

Given Brie’s contribution and accumulated knowledge, as both a member of the board and a member of management, her colleagues on the board see her as a likely future Chairperson of Driscoll’s. Her new role will allow her to focus fully on her responsibilities as Vice Chair and to further develop the skills and experiences that would support a future role with expanded responsibilities.

“I am very motivated by this new opportunity to continue contributing to the company at a high strategic level, maintaining the family touch at Driscoll’s that, we hope, helps make it a great place, while also allowing me to be present for my family,” said Brie Smith. “Assuming my responsibilities as Vice Chair and now stepping down from management is the next step toward that vision — one that I believe benefits both our company and our family.”

Founded in 1904, Driscoll’s has remained a family-owned company for four generations, with the Reiter family playing a central role as both growers and leaders. Brie Smith’s appointment continues a legacy of generational stewardship that has shaped the company’s mission to delight berry consumers around the world.

About Driscoll’s

Driscoll’s is the global market leader of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage, Driscoll’s is a pioneer of berry flavor innovation and the trusted consumer brand of Only the Finest Berries™. With more than 900 independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s develops exclusive patented berry varieties using only traditional breeding methods that focus on growing great-tasting berries. A dedicated team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant pathologists, and entomologists help grow baby seedlings that are then grown on local family farms. Driscoll’s berries are grown in more than 20 countries and are available for consumers in more than 40 countries across North America, Australia, Europe, and China.

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