Rebecca Takemoto, Executive Director, WIN

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) announced updates to its membership development and member experience programs, following the retirement of longtime team lead Carl Hyland. Longtime CRN staffer Gretchen Powers, who most recently served as Vice President, marketing and membership experience as part of the communications team, will now oversee CRN’s membership department, with greater focus on elevating the experience of the association’s growing community of dietary supplement and functional food industry executive members. Powers has been a member of the CRN communications team for more than a decade, following a stint as a consultant to the association from 2007–2013, after beginning her career with the dietary supplement industry as a communications coordinator for CRN in 1999. In her updated role, she will lead CRN’s membership development and retention strategy, reporting directly to CRN President Steve Mister. In addition, dietary supplement industry veteran Ed Wyszumiala has joined the CRN team as Senior Director of membership development. Wyszumiala brings more than 20 years of experience in the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries to his role at CRN. Most recently, he was Director of Market Development and Verification programs for USP (the U.S. Pharmacopeia), and has held previous roles at Vitamin Shoppe, NAXA (Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association), NSF International and Graminex LLC. Wyzumiala will drive new member recruitment and contribute to member service and retention efforts. 

Trace Minerals announced the addition of Charles “Chuck” Walkley as Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, Walkley will oversee the daily operational functions of Trace Minerals. Walkley has more than three decades of experience in the CPG industry, including firsthand experience building high-performing management and sales teams, setting corporate vision, leading sophisticated manufacturing operations, elevating brand equity, and more. Most recently, he served as COO for CocoVibe. Prior to that, Walkley was CEO for New Whey Nutrition, COO for Tampico Beverages Inc., and VP of Sales for Vermont Pure Springs.

Steve Holtby has been appointed Food & Nutrition Sales Director, Nutrition at LBB Specialties Foods & Nutrition. Holtby will be a key player implementing growth strategies for the brand’s Nutrition sales team, aligning closely with its overall business goals. 

Ayana Bio announced the appointment of Jim Hamilton, former President of DSM Nutritional Products USA and CEO of OmniActive Health Technologies, to the company's board of directors. An executive in the health, nutrition, and life science industries, Hamilton is recognized for his leadership and stewardship of companies through periods of rapid growth, strategic review, and transition. Hamilton brings a wealth of industry experience to Ayana Bio, having served in various leadership roles and board positions in the dietary supplement, food, beverage, cosmetic and animal nutrition industries. In addition to Hamilton's current advisory roles, he acts as chair of the board of directors of Vitamin Angels. 

The Grafton Village Cheese Company, a subsidiary of the Windham Foundation, announced that Curt Alpeter has stepped into the position of CEO. He is leading operations, retail, and wholesale distribution. Alpeter was most recently President of Runamok Maple, where he helped build the company into a nationally recognized specialty food brand. Alpeter has also served as Board Chair to Audubon Vermont and has been a member of several other non-profit boards including the Charlotte Land Trust and North Country Federal Credit Union.

Ortho Molecular Products announced that after 34 years as the company’s president, Aaron Bartz is transitioning to the role of Chief Strategic Advisor. Throughout his tenure, Bartz helped the company reach several significant milestones, and expand its presence in the healthcare practitioner channel. In his new position, Bartz will continue to play a role in long-term strategic initiatives, and will be responsible for identifying new growth opportunities, fostering innovation, and ensuring the company remains at the forefront.

Harvest Food Group (HFG) shared that its high-growth CPG veteran Amit Pandhi has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. HFG, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in June 2024, was purchased by Industrial Opportunity Partners in May. Pandhi most recently served as the CEO of Popchips, where he orchestrated a transformation and revitalization of the company in partnership with private equity firm VMG Partners. Within a span of three years, he oversaw the construction of a manufacturing facility, devised innovative market strategies, and doubled the business. Popchips achieved a successful sale to a strategic acquirer in Q4 2022 under Amit's leadership. Prior to his tenure at Popchips, Pandhi served as the President and CEO of Arctic Zero.

Ian Pinner has been appointed Senior Vice President, President, Nutrition, and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at ADM. Pinner succeeds Vince Macciocchi, who announced his plan to retire from ADM at the end of this year. Pinner joined ADM in 1999 and has served in a variety of senior leadership roles throughout the company, most recently serving as chief strategy and innovation officer for the past 5 years. In this role he has led ADM’s strategy, business development and M&A efforts, and ADM Ventures, and he developed the company’s growth innovation platforms, which have collectively provided a significant foundation for the advancement of ADM’s Nutrition business strategy and innovation. Pinner’s previous roles at ADM include chief growth officer; president, Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand; president, Global Destination Marketing; President, Global Cocoa and Chocolate; Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Financial Planning & Analysis; and President, ADM Grain, among many other leadership positions for the company.

Gnosis by Lesaffre held its inaugural meeting of the Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee (K2SAC) and added two new distinguished members: Stefanos Roumeliotis, M.D., from AHEPA University Hospital (Greece), Department of Nephrology, specializes in chronic disease research and statistical analysis and drives the MenaQ7 K2 VIKIPEDIA study. Sola Bahous, M.D., PhD, MHPE, from Lebanese American University School of Medicine, offers expertise including arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity, hypertension, and renal/kidney failure, and is immersed in the novel migraine study with MenaQ7 Vitamin K2. The overarching theme of the meeting was ‘Exploring the Future of Vitamin K2’ with key panels covering the latest research associating Vitamin K2 intake with emerging health areas and applications.  

Awards and Honors

Congratulations to all who were recognized in The Hill’s Annual Top Lobbyists. Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., and Kyle Turk of the Natural Products Association (NPA) were recognized for the third year in a row as The Hill’s Top Lobbyists for 2023. The federal lobbying bench is deep, with more than 12,500 actively lobbying so far in 2023, and not everyone on this list is a registered lobbyist. These impactful advocates stand out for the results they’ve delivered for their clients, companies, trade associations and advocacy groups in the nation’s capital.

Karen E. Todd, RD, CSCS, EP-C, CISSN, VP of Global Brand Marketing, Kyowa Hakko USA

 

Kyowa Hakko, U.S.A., Inc. shared the news that Karen E. Todd, RD, CSCS, EP-C, CISSN, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at the leading international health ingredient manufacturer, has been honored with the prestigious Drug Store News (DSN) Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty for Business Excellence in the Class of 2023 award. DSN Top Women recognizes Todd's leadership, innovative ideas, and dedication to education. The DSN Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty program commends women nominated by their peers for making outstanding contributions to their companies and their communities with attributes that go above and beyond the call of duty.