Eden worked closely with AMFRESH’s senior leadership team to define a brief for the role—one not typically found within the fresh produce sector. Our search targeted professionals from global blue-chip organisations with mature innovation and R&D functions. A key criterion was international experience along with a demonstrable ability to lead cross-functional innovation across diverse business units.

We recognised early on that the ideal candidate would need to bring a broad and adaptive approach to innovation—not anchored in a single discipline. The role required someone who could build a function from scratch, establish clear strategic frameworks, and identify and prioritise high-impact initiatives to support AMFRESH’s ambitious growth and transformation goals.

Eden worked closely with the President of Dole Europe and the Organisational Development Director of Total Produce to refine and define the skills, experiences, and characteristics for the appointment focusing on the blend of commercial experience, retail knowledge and strategic insight required to develop Dole Italy.

Once completed Eden completed a talent identification and engagement process within the Italian fresh produce and food manufacturing industry looking at country specific companies as well as pan European organisations. This identified over 156 candidates across southern Europe.

Our Head of Research and Managing Director worked together closely to deliver the key stages of candidate selection: identification, screening, assessment and validation. This approach delivered a shortlist of four candidates which Dole considered highly credible and interviewed; with two candidates being brought back for a 2^nd stage and third stage site tours. This process was conducted in complete confidentiality.