(Direct Newsline) In the wake of Bear Creek Corp.’s recent sale to New York-based private equity investor Wasserstein & Co., the cataloger of fruits and food gifts is getting a change in leadership. Wasserstein bought Medford, OR-based Bear Creek from Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. of Tokyo for $260 million earlier this year.
Bill Williams, a former CEO of Yamanouchi Consumer who had previously helmed Bear Creek, is replacing CEO/president Nancy Tait, who will retire on July 2. Steve O’Connell, a Wasserstein executive, will become CFO/CAO for Bear Creek. He succeeds John Dailey, who also is retiring, according to published reports.
Bear Creek is the parent company of food mailer Harry and David and horticulture title Jackson & Perkins.