Oregon Freeze Dry Brings in New Leadership

Life Sciences CDMO Veteran David Enloe Appointed CEO 

 

ALBANY, Ore. – Oregon Freeze Dry (“OFD” or the “Company”), one of North America’s largest and most technologically advanced freeze-dryer of foods, probiotics, enzymes, proteins, and other lyophilized pharmaceutical inputs, has named J. David Enloe Jr. as Chief Executive Officer. Enloe brings to the Company nearly three decades of executive leadership experience in biopharmaceutical innovation, therapeutic drug and vaccine development, and cGMP manufacturing. 

 

Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Albany, Oregon, OFD started as a pioneer in lyophilization (freeze-drying) applications. With over 60 years of unmatched lyophilization expertise, the Company currently serves a range of unique industries. OFD’s Food division has perfected the art and science of manufacturing superior-tasting freeze-dried products, providing meals to the U.S. military and outdoor enthusiasts under its award-winning Mountain House® brand. More recently, the Company created the OFD Life Sciences division to bring innovative lyophilization solutions to the biopharma, medtech and consumer health markets. 

 

OFD is owned by Arbor Investments, a specialized private equity firm that focuses principally on acquiring premier companies in food, beverage, and related industries. 

 

“David is a dynamic leader who knows how to keep organizations focused and motivated to ultimately deliver outstanding results,” said John Jordan, Chief Operating Officer at Arbor. “In addition to his broad skillset, his deep understanding of the biopharma and the life sciences sector will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in driving growth at OFD.” 

 

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to lead OFD into the next chapter of its impressive legacy as a leading provider of lyophilized product solutions. By leveraging the Company’s technical and innovation focused expertise in the food and related markets, OFD is now poised to deploy that manufacturing and quality expertise to additional markets, including the animal health and biopharmaceutical sectors,” said Enloe. 

 

Before joining OFD, Enloe served as President and CEO of Societal CDMO, Inc. (formerly Recro Pharma), a publicly traded contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for which Enloe engineered a take-private transaction to a leading life sciences private equity firm. Prior to Societal CDMO, Enloe was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, a global, fully integrated CDMO which was the result of merging four distinct CDMOs under Enloe’s vision and leadership. In 2009 Enloe founded one of the first gene therapy CDMOs, Vivante GMP Solutions, which he sold to Switzerland-based Lonza and which was the basis for establishing Lonza’s Viral Therapeutics Business Unit, which Enloe led for three years after its sale. His entry into the life sciences space was as the first employee, Senior Vice President of Operations, and ultimately CEO of Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., one of the first gene therapy development companies in the world, where he oversaw the creation of the first commercial scale viral vector facility in the United States. 

 

Enloe received a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Public Accountant and started his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co. 

 

ABOUT OFD 

Founded in 1963, OFD is one of the largest and most technologically advanced freeze-dryer in North America. OFD has long been a leader in both global reach and the variety of uses to which it applies freeze drying technology. Across its bicoastal manufacturing facility footprint, OFD has the capabilities to produce a diverse mix of products ranging from individual ingredients (including food, supplements, and pharmaceuticals) to fully prepared meals under its Mountain House® brand. OFD is headquartered in Albany, Oregon. Please visit www.ofd.com and www.ofdlifesciences.com for more information on the Company. 

 

ABOUT ARBOR INVESTMENTS 

Founded in 1999, Arbor Investments is a specialized private equity firm focused principally on acquiring premier companies in food, beverage, and related industries. To date, the firm has acquired or invested in over 85 companies in North America. Arbor is headquartered in Palm Beach, FL, with additional offices in Chicago and New York. www.arborpic.com