NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Cal Expo Board of Directors announced Friday that Rick Pickering will be its new general manager.

Pickering, 54, is currently the chief executive officer of the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

Today, the Alameda County Fair is one of the most decorated fairs in the nation and has been deemed the “Fasted Growing Fair in north America” by industry publications, with a 44 percent increase in attendance over the past four years.

Pickering has also served as deputy general manager of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa and spent 12 years in city government including stints with the cities of Costa Mesa and Torrance.

Pickering is expected to start work on Dec. 28. He succeeds Norb Bartosik, who retires at the end of the year.

The 2013 California State Fair will be held from July 12-28 at Cal Expo in Sacramento.