calavo growers inc said chief executive brian kocher has stepped down from his role and will be succeeded by lee cole who previously ran the company from 1999 until early 2020 mr cole has agreed to lead the company for three years with the goal of returning calavo to a position of growth the company said lee was responsible for bringing calavo into the public market and making it one of the largest avocado companies in the world chairman steven hollister said his knowledge of the avocado business is second to none and we anticipate great things for the company and our employees as we move forward last week calvalo posted an 18 decline in sales for the fiscal first quarter the company also said it was restructuring including by exiting its noncore salsa business shares are down almost 33 over the past 12 months write to will feuer at willfeuerwsjcom