Executive Leadership Team

Stephen J. Barnard founded Mission Produce in 1983 and currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Barnard also serves as a member of the Board of Directors, a role he has held since the Company was founded. Prior to founding Mission Produce, Mr. Barnard worked in the lettuce and avocado divisions of Santa Clara Produce, Inc. Mr. Barnard previously served as Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Chairman of the Western Growers Association, a director of the California Avocado Commission, and a director of Sunkist Growers. He currently serves as a director for the Cal Poly Foundation.

Mr. Barnard received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Mr. Barnard’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his deep and thorough knowledge of all aspects of our business and industry, his effective leadership and management skills, and his long-tenured service in senior roles with key industry groups.

John Pawlowski is an accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience in the global food and foodservice industry, specializing in business development, system optimization and executive team management. Pawlowski has a proven track record of leading international market growth strategies in large global organizations such as J.M. Smucker, where he held a number of progressive leadership roles over more than 16 years, culminating with a post as VP of International. Before joining Mission, he served as the President and COO of Lipari Foods, a leading independent distributor, where he was responsible for leading M&A and organic growth, expanding the company’s national distribution and designing its operational strategy. Pawlowski received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kent State University. John’s favorite way to enjoy avocados is fresh made guacamole and avocado toast.

Bryan Giles is an innate problem-solver and skilled financial planner, with over 20 years of management experience in finance, accounting and auditing. As CFO, Bryan oversees financial planning, control structure, management of risks, financial forecasting and acquisitions. Among his many achievements at Mission, Bryan contributed to the company’s most profitable year in its history and played a critical role in the acquisition of Grupo Arato. Before joining Mission, Giles worked at Tecom Industries Inc., a division of Smiths Group, in multiple capacities including Vice President of Finance & Administration and Vice President of Finance – MSS Technology Group. Prior to this, he oversaw a group of military technology companies with revenues of ~$200m at Smiths Group. Smiths Group is a diversified, multi-national manufacturer of highly engineered projects with multibillion-dollar annual revenues. Bryan launched his career at Deloitte & Touche after graduating at the top of his business class. He holds a CPA license in California. Giles likes to eat avocados fresh cut with “Everything but the Bagel” seasoning!

Anita Lemos is a reliable and driven human resources professional who provides executive strategy for staffing, leadership development, onboarding, culture, employee relations, compensation and benefits. As VP of HR, Lemos has directed efforts that have resulted in: a three tier leadership training program, improving employee morale, work ethic and communication; streamlined companywide talent acquisition practices; and a top-down inclusion strategy, instituting a more diverse and gender inclusive company. One of her major contributions has been spearheading the Mission Produce Foundation, which has resulted in a greater level of company consciousness. Anita loves to eat avocados for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and her favorite dishes are chicken/avocado soup and avocado and sprouts on a croissant.

Joanne Wu, Mission’s General Counsel and Secretary, has more than fifteen years of experience in public company representation, securities law matters, corporate governance, complex commercial contracts, public and private equity and debt offerings, M&A, and legal department management. Throughout her career, she has held positions both in-house and in private practice. In her role as General Counsel and Secretary, Joanne is responsible for overseeing Mission’s worldwide legal affairs, including public company representation, M&A and transactions, corporate governance, securities law compliance, litigation, and other compliance matters. She also serves as the company’s Secretary and supports the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Mission, Joanne served as the Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Public Storage. Before that, she was the Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Dine Brands Global. She has also held a legal counsel role at Amgen and an associate position at Latham & Watkins. Joanne earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California. Joanne enjoys eating freshly cut avocados with soy sauce.