Driscoll’s has named a new leader of its Chilean division.

Brie Reiter Smith is now general manager of Driscoll’s of Chile, according to a news release from Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s.

The move is part of a larger restructuring of Driscoll’s Chilean operations, with the goal of making the company the premier exporter of Chilean blueberries to worldwide markets.

Smith is the daughter of Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s chief executive officer. She and her husband, Brian, are the owners of BerrySmith, a blueberry growing operation in Ovalle, Chile.

“I am excited by the future of Driscoll’s presence in Chile,” Smith said in the release. “We are organizing our grower partnerships to capitalize on the ever increasing market demand for premium quality blueberries.”

In her new position, Smith will report to Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s executive vice president for the Americas.

“Over the past year, we have been evaluating our global blueberry strategy and we are now ready to implement a number of changes designed to ensure our future success,” Bjorn said in the release. “Due to the changing role of Chile in the global blueberry market, we have adopted a strategy to focus our supply efforts to the period we believe Chile will remain the world’s leading source of blueberries.”

Other changes for Driscoll’s of Chile include a new headquarters in Chile.

Smith is the first member of the fourth generation of Driscoll’s owners to take a leadership position in the company.

The Packer