Wallace rises to top position at Hawaii isle mac nut firm

Hawaii macadamia nut producer and retailer Royal Hawaiian Orchards LP has elevated its executive vice president of sales and marketing to lead the company as president and chief executive officer.

Scott C. Wallace was named to the top post of the Hilo-based company Thursday. He replaces John Kai, a Hilo financial adviser who served as a Hawaiian Orchards board director since 2004 and was appointed to the top executive position on an interim basis in June following the departure of former President and CEO Dennis Simonis, whose employment was terminated.

Hawaiian Orchards said Kai resigned Monday and will remain on the company’s board. Wallace’s appointment was made Tuesday, the company said.

Wallace joined Hawaiian Orchards last year to spearhead a transition of the company from an exclusive bulk seller of nuts still in their shells to a manufacturer and retailer of snacks made with macadamias.

The transition, which included changing the company’s name from ML Macadamia Orchards LP and launching retail products about a year ago, has required significant startup costs that contributed to financial losses in recent quarters.

Wallace, 57, has a long career history with consumer-goods businesses that includes leading Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. from 1998 to 2001. Mauna Loa is a buyer of Hawaiian Orchards nuts and also sells retail candy and nut products.

Wallace joined Mauna Loa in 1994 as vice president for mainland marketing and sales, and his work included a co-branding relationship with Ghi­rar­delli Chocolate Co.

In 2001 Wallace left Mauna Loa to become president and CEO of vegetarian-burger maker Gardenburger Inc., which he took private in 2006.

Wallace then moved on to become senior vice president of sales for sewing machine distributor SVP Worldwide for four years.

In 2007 Hawaiian Orchards tapped Wallace to serve as a board director.

Wallace’s last executive position before being hired by Hawaiian Orchards was president and CEO of Fruit Patch, a processor and marketer of fresh fruit which he led from 2009 to 2011.