New COO Named for Ailing Seminis

* Savia, an insurance conglomerate based in Mexico, has appointed Eugenio Najera chief operating officer of its struggling seed unit, Seminis Inc., which is based in Oxnard. Najera, who has worked with Savia’s chairman, Alfonso Romo, for more than two decades, will replace Alejandro Rodriguez.

Savia also created a division, which Najera will head, that takes administrative charge of both Seminis and Savia’s fresh produce and seed research unit, Bionova Holding Corp.

The change is part of a shake-up at Seminis. Last week, the company appointed Henk van Wielink vice president of operations and Oscar Velasco vice president of marketing and strategic planning.

Seminis in June announced a restructuring to save as much as $136 million in costs over five years by shutting production plants, firing workers and cutting the number of products it offers.

* Glendale-based Ketchum Sheppard, an employee communications consulting firm, has promoted Susan Vinik Consales to senior vice president and design director.