Key Technology Appoints Cedric Simmons as Area Sales Manager for the Southeast United States

Key Technology announces the appointment of Cedric Simmons as Area Sales Manager for the Southeast United States. 

Simmons is responsible for bringing Key’s high performance digital sorting, conveying, and process automation systems to food processors and other manufacturers. 

“This new position strengthens Key’s focus on our existing processed fruit and vegetable customers and will speed our increased penetration of the nut and dried fruit industries. Since Key’s merger with Visys last year, and the success of the Cayman® BioPrint® hyperspectral-based sorting system and our new Taurys™ digital laser chute-fed sorting system, our momentum in the nut and dried fruit industries has skyrocketed. We want to bring our unique solutions to the peanut and pecan processors that dominate the Southeast U.S.,” said Steve Pellegrino, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Key Technology. “Cedric’s background and experience in the capital equipment and food processing industry will be of tremendous value as we expand our sales and aftermarket support in the Southeast U.S.” 

Simmons brings 15 years of experience selling and supporting industrial equipment, including eight years in the food processing industry, to his position at Key. Most recently, he was a Senior Account Executive for DEHN Inc. Prior to that, he worked for FMC FoodTech (now JBT FoodTech) where he held various positions including Business Development Manager – Aftermarket Parts & Services. Simmons holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from South Carolina State University and has earned his MBA as well as a master’s degree in technical management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 

“Key has a fantastic opportunity to expand its business in the Southeast U.S. because of its perfect mix of belt- and chute-fed sorters, along with mechanical grading equipment and conveyors that are ideal for nut, vegetable, snack, and other applications,” said Simmons. “Key Technology is a respected leader, and I am excited to have the opportunity to join this team and help processors achieve greater yield and higher efficiencies in their processing operations.” 

Based in Florida, Simmons handles the territory that includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and peanut processors in Virginia.