Gustavo Gilchrist

Gustavo Gilchrist is President of Kennicott Brothers Company, one of the largest floral wholesale distribution companies in the United States. Founded in 1881 and headquartered in Chicago, Kennicott Brothers operates across multiple states and is proudly 100% employee-owned, with more than 350 employee-owners nationwide. In his role, Gustavo provides strategic leadership focused on long-term growth, operational excellence, and values-driven acquisitions that preserve the company’s employee-owned culture.

Since joining Kennicott in the early 2010s, Gustavo has been instrumental in expanding the company’s footprint while strengthening its commitment to sustainability and industry collaboration. His professional background includes senior leadership roles in the food, chemical, and agrochemical sectors, bringing a global perspective to business strategy and supply chain operations.

Gustavo holds an MBA from IPADE Business School in Mexico and a degree in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia. He is actively engaged in industry leadership, having served on the Board of Trustees for the American Floral Endowment (AFE), currently serving on the board of IFD, and participating in educational initiatives across the floral industry. In 2025, Gustavo joined the CalFlowers Board of Directors.