Dole’s Financial Chief Resigns; Successor Named

Dole Food Co. said Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Kay was leaving to pursue other interests.

Dole, the largest producer of fresh fruit and vegetables in the world, said it had named Richard Dahl to succeed Kay.

Dahl left Pacific Century Financial Corp. and its Bank of Hawaii as president in March to find a job that had business exposure to the Asia-Pacific region, Pacific Century Financial said at the time.

He joins Dole as it tries to cut costs by striking more favorable contracts with suppliers.

Kay had joined Dole in 1999 from Universal Studios. Dole spokeswoman Freya Maneki would not elaborate on why Kay is leaving.

Shares of the Westlake Village-based company fell 45 cents to $29.45 on the New York Stock Exchange.