Mission Produce Announces Leadership Succession: Co-Founder and CEO Steve Barnard to Become Executive Chairman; President and COO John Pawlowski Named CEO

Leadership transition to take effect following Mission Produce’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2026

Mission Produce, a world leader in sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, today announced a planned leadership transition: Steve Barnard, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board and John Pawlowski, currently President and Chief Operating Officer, will become Chief Executive Officer, effective at the close of the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2026. The announcement reflects Mission’s long-term succession planning and the strength of its operational bench in avocados and mangos across retail, wholesale and foodservice channels.

For more than four decades, Mission has helped shape the modern avocado category—advancing vertical integration, expanding world-class operations and leading the industry as a pioneer in ripening expertise. Through years of investment and innovation, Mission has built a trusted global distribution network that serves customers across North America, China, Europe and the UK with consistent quality and a reliable supply.

“As we plan for Mission’s next chapter, I’m proud of the team that has grown this business from a local operation into a global leader,” said Barnard. “This transition is about continuity for our customers and grower partners—sustaining the operational discipline, product quality and service reliability they count on from Mission. Since joining Mission, John has brought tremendous leadership and operational expertise and I am confident that his strategic vision and decades of experience in the global food industry makes him the ideal leader to guide Mission through its next chapter of growth. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and I look forward to supporting John and the team in my new role as Executive Chairman of the Board.”

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO and grateful to Steve and the Board for their confidence,” said Pawlowski. “Mission is positioned to keep elevating the avocado and mango experience—partnering with retailers and foodservice operators to grow consumption, improve consistency and accelerate growth. I am excited to lead our talented team as we continue to focus on operational excellence, strong grower relationships and category-building programs that create value across the supply chain. The future is bright for Mission Produce and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation Steve and the team have created.”

Pawlowski joined Mission Produce in April 2024 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He is a highly accomplished executive with more than 25 years in the global food and foodservice industry, specializing in business development, system optimization and executive team management. Prior to Mission, Pawlowski served as President and COO of Lipari Foods, a leading independent distributor and served for more than 16 years at J.M. Smucker in a variety of leadership positions, culminating with a role as Vice President of International. Pawlowski holds a Master of Business Administration from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Miami University.

Since joining Mission, Pawlowski has focused on process improvement, logistics optimization and productivity—work that supports Mission’s vertically integrated model, strengthens service for retail and foodservice partners and aligns the organization around continuous improvement and collaboration.