Farmer Bros. president, finance chief named CEO

Farmer Bros. Co. said Friday that its president and chief operating officer would become chief executive of the Torrance-based coffee company in December.

Roger “Rocky” Laverty of Manhattan Beach, who has held his current post since last year, also was elected to the board of directors.

Laverty, 60, will succeed Guenter Berger, 70, as CEO. Berger will continue as chairman of the board when he retires in December after 47 years with the company.

Laverty’s previous jobs include a two-year stint as president and CEO of Diedrich Coffee Inc., a specialty coffee roaster, and 19 years in executive posts at Smart & Final Inc., a Los Angeles-based food retailer.

Farmer Bros. is an institutional coffee roaster that sells coffee and related products to the food service industry in 28 states.