Andy Higgins

About Andy Higgins

C- level agri-business executive who leads privately held companies, with overall responsibility for long range strategic planning, business development, commercial, legal, mergers and acquisitions (including private equity), cost reduction, operational and supply chain efficiency, sales / marketing, product development, forecasting, financial management and treasury. Past member of the board of directors for five US and international companies. Managed international businesses covering the Americas, Europe, Australia and Africa. • Integrate the organization’s culture and mission with international operations and staff, providing a consistent quality of product and services, cohesive marketing strategy and greater access to product inventory, at a lower cost to the customer. • Increase sales, EBITDA and service levels to customers and licensees, reduced costs, improved gross margins, and developed and implemented significant organizational changes, consistently achieving and exceeding financial and operational goals. • Translate ownership’s goals and vision into the successful action, behavior and results of the organization. • Collaborate closely with customers and licensees; created and implemented organizational changes to support their needs and align with the marketplace. • Motivate, inspire and engage effective and loyal teams that deliver a long-term strategic advantage. • Strategically manage the allocation of resources (staff, financial and organizational structure) responding to customers’ needs in a tailored and relevant manner, resulting in longer contractual relationships and customer loyalties. • Spanish language working proficiency.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Ifg

   Feb 2017 — Present · Bakersfield, CA, US

   IFG® is one of the world\'s largest fruit-breeding operations, specializing in table grapes and sweet cherries, and with a goal to provide consumers with an incredible eating experience. The company combines cutting-edge scientific techniques with proven business acumen, and a world-wide licensing and intellectual property management system supporting the entire supply channel. As the company’s Chief Executive Officer, I lead the organization’s strategy and business execution with the focus on developing a strong team based, performance driven culture, dedicated to innovation and creativity. A major goal is to maximize the contribution of the staff and realize the full potential of each variety and product developed. Key initiatives include: • Develop and implement a strategic plan to define IFG’s breeding program, go-to-market strategy, and licensing models. • Initiate a comprehensive customer-centric marketing plan to promote, protect and extend IFG’s competitive position, brand, intellectual properties, market penetration and share, reputation, product innovation, and customer satisfaction. • Develop and implement a business strategy to leverage and maximize the full potential of IFG varieties in every market segment. • Support current and future IFG licensees via a variety of programs that focus on technical support, quality assurance and world-class account management. • Build motivate, mentor and lead the global team and assure coordination across the organization. • Develop reliable operational metrics and data mining/analysis tools and systems to identify market potential, capture grower data and feedback to drive decision-making supporting the entire portfolio of products. • Implement comprehensive intellectual property strategies to defend trademarks and patents. Design long term strategies to create additional barriers that protect IFG’s core assets.

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles - The Anderson School of Management

  Certificate - Executive Program in Management from Graduate School of Management

  2004 — 2005

• California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

  1983 — 1988