Driscoll's appoints new CEO as company wrestles with pesticide lawsuit

Driscoll's confirmed that its chief executive, who joined the firm in 2006 and became CEO in 2023, will depart, with the board naming Smith as his successor. Bjorn will stay on to assist with strategic priorities, and Executive Chair Miles Reiter highlighted his intelligence and commitment. The change comes as the berry giant faces a consumer fraud class-action suit filed by six shoppers from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois, alleging that testing revealed residues of twelve pesticides, including eight PFAS compounds, at levels prohibited in the EU and other markets.

Plaintiffs also claim the company misled consumers through its “Only the Finest Berries” branding and green image. A separate whistleblower filing by former food-safety manager David Harada asserts he was terminated after warning executives about growers exceeding pesticide limits and being urged to prioritize profit over compliance. Driscoll's has rejected the claims as baseless, while Smith emphasized her personal connection to the product and commitment to trust and quality.