The AmericanHort Board of Directors has named Ken Fisher as the company’s next president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.
Fisher has 20 years of experience leading public and privately held companies, including oversight of well-known consumer brands such as The Coleman Co. and Elmer’s Products Inc.
“We know the industry values our advocacy work and educational programs, especially Cultivate,” said Dale Deppe, AmericanHort board chairman. “Ken’s expertise will assist us in enhancing existing offerings, while adding new value that will broaden our membership.
“The pace of change in our industry is rapid, and he has experience successfully leading organizations through both business and regulatory cycles. Ken’s business growth track record is exactly what AmericanHort needs as we enter our next chapter, which I am confident will be even more impactful and exciting than our last.”
Fisher’s predecessor in the position, Michael V. Geary, left AmericanHort at the end of September 2015 to become CEO of the Society for Marketing Professional Services in Washington, D.C.
In a news release on his appointment, Fisher said, “In the near term, we will examine our value proposition to ensure we are providing substantial benefit to growers, retailers, installers and industry suppliers. Additional focus will be on meeting the unique needs of nursery and landscape members. We will align resources to enhance our ability to create value and as a result grow our member base.”
Go-forward strategies identified include the following:
- Help to develop prosperous businesses in current and future economic and market conditions.
- Position horticulture to be a relevant and thriving industry where more individuals and future generations will consider it a desirable career.
- Promote the benefits of plants to be valued and sought after for their health/wellness and economic benefits in communities.
AmericanHort was formed in 2014 by the consolidation of the American Nursery & Landscape Association and OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals. The organization has nearly 16,000 member and affiliated businesses that include breeders, greenhouse and nursery growers, garden retailers, distributors, interior and exterior landscape professionals, florists, students, educators, researchers and manufacturers.