Chiquita Elects Jeffrey Simmons to Board of Directors

CINCINNATI, May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Lilly Executive Adds Research & Development Expertise to Board

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) today announced that Chiquita shareholders elected Jeffrey Simmons, 44, to the board of directors at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Simmons will serve on the Audit Committee and the Food Innovation, Safety and Technology Committee of the Board.

Simmons serves as senior vice president of Eli Lilly and Company and president of Elanco Animal Health, the animal health division of Lilly. He brings more than 20 years of management experience from a customer-focused, innovation-driven global company that develops and markets products to improve animal health, protein production and food safety.

"We welcome Jeff to Chiquita's board," said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer. "His leadership and execution of strategic and transformation goals enhance an already strong group of independent board members and will help us to achieve Chiquita's sustainable growth strategy."

Throughout Simmons' career at Elanco he has driven revenues by looking at the animal health industry through an innovative, consumer-focused perspective. He joined Lilly in 1989 and has held numerous positions within Elanco, including executive director of global strategy, operations and research and development; area director, Western Europe; and country director for Brazil. He has managed Elanco's international marketing for cattle and poultry and has also held other marketing and sales management positions in Elanco's domestic and international areas.

"It's a pleasure to join the board of directors of a global company with such iconic consumer brands," said Simmons. "I believe my experience with branding and food safety at Elanco will have an important role in helping Chiquita achieve its mission and further create shareholder value. Just as I hope to contribute to Chiquita, I look forward to gaining from their deep understanding of the consumer retail food markets."

Chiquita also announced today that Bob Fisher did not stand for re-election for the company's board of directors in accordance with the company's retirement age guideline effective May 26, 2011.

"For the past nine years it has been a privilege and honor to benefit from Bob's industry expertise and sound judgment on our board of directors," said Aguirre. "We all join in extending our thanks to him for his tremendous efforts on Chiquita's behalf and his enthusiasm for our strong future."

All other board members were re-elected including Aguirre as board chairman. Board members include: Fernando Aguirre, Jeffrey Simmons, Kerrii Anderson, former chief executive officer and president of Wendy's International; Howard W. Barker Jr., former partner of KPMG LLP; William H. Camp, former executive of the Archer Daniels Midland Company; Clare M. Hasler-Lewis, executive director of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at the University of California at Davis; Jaime Serra, senior partner of Serra Associates International, a consulting firm in law and economics, and Mexico's former secretary of finance and secretary of trade and industry; and Steven P. Stanbrook, chief operating officer, international at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

In line with the shareholder vote recommending an annual shareholder vote on named executive officer compensation, the Board of Directors has determined to hold such advisory votes annually.

About Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) is a leading international marketer and distributor of high-quality fresh and value-added food products - from energy-rich bananas and other fruits to nutritious blends of convenient green salads. The company markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita(R) and Fresh Express(R) premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual revenues of more than $3 billion, Chiquita employs more than 21,000 people and has operations in nearly 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit our corporate web site at http://www.chiquitabrands.com.