Vice President, Member Relations

Mel began his career at Blue Diamond Growers in 1992, working as a Field Supervisor in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Working through the organization as Special Projects Coordinator and Assistant Director, Mel assumed the role of Director of Member Relations in 2014, where he is responsible for overseeing the cooperative’s grower/member relationships and activities.

Mel’s industry affiliations includes his position as an Alternate on the Almond Board of California and holds positions on the Production Research and the Scientific Coordinating Committees.

Mel graduated from California State University-Fresno in 1979 with a Bachelors of Science in Plant Science and earned Masters in Vocational Education from the Consortium of the California State University in 1986. Mel holds a keen interest in flying and photography.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
While I normally have a can of the Low Sodium Almonds on my desk, I can’t resist the Wasabi and Soy Sauce Almonds!

Click Here to Download Bio

Senior Vice President, Global Consumer

Raj Joshi joined Blue Diamond in 2016, as Senior Vice President of Global Consumer, following an 18-year career with the Kellogg Company. As a former General Manager and Marketing VP, Raj brings significant leadership experience around driving growth, building brands, leading high-performing teams and delivering results in multiple food categories and markets around the world.

As SVP Global Consumer, Raj directs leadership of sales, marketing, brand and R&D functions for all of Blue Diamond’s retail products on a global basis. As a member of the Executive Team, the SVP has shared responsibility for developing and enabling corporate strategy, fostering Blue Diamond’s corporate culture and driving world-class enterprise performance.

Raj holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
I never have to compromise on health and taste with Blue Diamond’s Roasted Salted Almonds.

Click Here to Download Bio

Senior Vice President, Global Supply

Brian Barczak joined Blue Diamond in July 2014. As the SVP of Global Supply, he is responsible for leading our End-to-End Supply Chain including Procurement, Planning, Manufacturing (Sacramento, Salida, and Turlock facilities), Co-Manufacturing, Safety, Quality, Engineering, Strategic Projects, Warehousing, Logistics, Transportation and Customer Service. The Supply team delivers world-class almond processing while ensuring the highest quality products and services. All of this is done while minimizing total delivered cost and effectively managing the incoming crop.

Previously, he had a nearly 30-year career with Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business. While there, he held senior leadership roles in Manufacturing, Distillation, Engineering, and Supply Chain for North America, the UK, and most recently in China as Deputy General Manager of Diageo’s joint-venture with Shui Jing Fang. Brian started his career in Diageo’s Pillsbury division, where he held roles in Plant Management, Engineering, and Operations Business Management for their Refrigerated Baked Goods business.

Brian earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
Smokehouse Almonds — the first BDG product I had as a teenager and still my favorite today!

Click Here to Download Bio

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Simone joined Blue Diamond in 2018. She is responsible for building Blue Diamond’s internal legal practice, with a particular focus on matters associated with trademarks, contracts, and employment. Her extensive experience in the consumer products and manufacturing industries includes identifying, prioritizing, and resolving legal and regulatory risks.

Before joining Blue Diamond in 2018, Simone spent a 12-year career at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia where she served as Managing Counsel for Coke’s $5 billion Glaceau business, makers of Vitamin Water and Smart Water. She also spent four years overseas in London, England in roles with NCR Corporation and PA Consulting.

Simone holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) from George Washington University of Law, and a Masters of Law (LLM) from Kings College London.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
Original Almond Breeze Almond Milk — I enjoy it in my morning latte or a fruit smoothie.

Click Here to Download Bio

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer

Dean LaVallee assumed the role as Blue Diamond’s Chief Financial Officer in 2011 following a 20-year career with Kraft Foods. Dean’s more than 25 years of finance experience includes senior Finance leadership positions in Accounting, Branded Retail, Food Service, Manufacturing, as well as Procurement.

As CFO, Dean has responsibility for all financial planning and analysis both at the enterprise and business unit level; Accounting, Treasury and Information Technology and Services.

In 2021, LaVallee was named COO in addition to his role as CFO. In his expanded COO/CFO role, he oversees the finance, global ingredients, and IT divisions of the cooperative.

Dean holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
Artisan Nut Thins, the Multi-Seeds variety, paired with some cheddar cheese makes for a great appetizer.

Click Here to Download Bio

CEO Emeritus

Mark Jansen has served as president and chief executive officer of Blue Diamond Growers since September 2010. With a leadership focus on innovation, safety, quality and strategic growth, Jansen has helped transform Blue Diamond into an industry-leading $1.75 billion global branded food manufacturer driven by a mission to provide economic sustainability for its cooperative of 3,000 mostly small, multi-generational almond farmers. Over Jansen’s 11 years with Blue Diamond, he has grown revenue by 9.4% CAGR and improved grower profit returns by 2000%.

Jansen offers a unique understanding of the branded retail, ingredients and food service businesses. His previous career achievements include executive positions with Schwan’s Food Service, The Pillsbury Company, Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., and General Mills, Inc, where he led profitable growth for brands such as Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Totino’s, Pillsbury, Red Baron, and Freschetta.

Jansen is former Chair of the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as former Chair of the organization’s International Forum and former Chair of its Audit Committee. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, is the Chair of the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership, is a Board Member and previous Vice Chair of the Almond Board of California, and is a Board Member of the Consumer Brands Association.

Jansen currently serves on company board of directors for Cakebread Cellars and Gemini Signs & Letters.

In 2021 Jansen was honored as one of Sacramento’s most respected CEOs.

Jansen received his MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in 1994.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
When I’m watching my favorite football team on a Sunday afternoon I have to have some Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Almonds with Sea Salt at my side.

Click Here to Download Bio

President & CEO

Kai Bockmann was selected by the Blue Diamond Growers Board of Directors to become President and Chief Executive Officer on January 16, 2023.

Kai has over 25 years of experience with global consumer packaged goods companies. He was the President and COO for Saputo, Inc., one of the world’s largest dairy companies with $14 billion in revenue, 67 plants, and 18,000 employees across Canada, the U.S., Australia, Argentina, and the UK. Kai, together with his team, grew the international business from $500 million to $4 billion in less than 10 years.

Prior to Saputo Inc., Kai was with McCain Foods – the world’s largest producer of frozen potatoes. He served in various roles including Managing Director of Asia and President of the International Division where he accelerated sales across 60 export markets.

Kai also served as a Commercial Advisor at the Canadian Embassy (DFAIT) in Bogota, Colombia early on in his career in the 90’s.

Kai received his MBA in International Business and undergraduate degrees in Communication and Business from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Kai is dedicated to the Blue Diamond mission of delivering the benefits of almonds to the world and leading the approximate 3,000 growers and 1,800 employees into the cooperative’s next chapter of growth and prosperity.

Which Blue Diamond product do you crave?
That’s not fair, that’s like picking your favorite child! At home we can’t get enough of the Honey Roasted and Wasabi and Soy Sauce flavored almonds.

Click Here to Download Bio