Former state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is set to become the chairman of the Board of Directors of Alico, Inc., a leading Florida citrus grower, the company announced Monday. Putnam, who has been a board member since 2020, will assume the chairman role in February, succeeding current Chairman George Brokaw, whose term will end. Brokaw will continue to serve on the board.
“With his public policy and public service experience, Adam brings to the board expertise in understanding and navigating the physical and transition risks and opportunities of climate change, along with his knowledge of sustainability, water supply, and agricultural operations within Florida’s regulatory environment,” Alico President and Chief Executive Officer John Kiernan said in a prepared statement.
Read: Florida Citrus Industry Faces Challenges Amidst Rebounding Demand
Alico, based in Fort Myers, holds significant citrus and real estate assets. Putnam, a Republican from Polk County, served two terms as agriculture commissioner before his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018. Since 2019, he has been the CEO of Ducks Unlimited.
Before his tenure as agriculture commissioner, Putnam served in both the U.S. Congress and the Florida House of Representatives.
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