The Natural Products Association (NPA) has appointed former Informa Markets' SupplySide Supplement Journal Associate Editorial Director Josh Long as VP of Communications and Regulatory Affairs. Long has reported on the dietary supplement and natural products industry for over 20 years covering its regulatory, legal and business development topics. “Josh has earned widespread respect across our industry for his thoughtful analysis, sharp reporting and commitment to transparency,” said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Natural Products Association. “His transition from journalist to advocate is a major asset for NPA and our members as we continue to navigate complex challenges and promote innovation.”

At NPA, Long will help lead regulatory engagement, public policy advocacy, and member education initiatives. “I’ve followed and reported on NPA’s work for many years and am excited to be joining an organization that plays such a vital role in protecting consumer access and advancing the integrity of natural products,” said Long. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to be a part of the NPA as the organization continues to advocate for a fair, quality-driven and science-based regulatory environment that supports innovation and public health.”

Dave Brown is joining the COMET team as its Vice President of Sales. The Nutrition Science B.S. and M.S. graduate from Cal Ploy, San Luis Obispo spent two years with Brightseed, involved in their project to utilize AI to discover novel bioactive ingredients for human health. Brown took to social media to share his enthusiasm for his upcoming opportunity, "I’m embarking on a new adventure bringing much needed high quality pre-biotic fiber to the market!"

The Radicle Science company has announced the hiring of Liya Sharif Lancia as its newest Chief Marketing Officer. The former VP of Marketing for Qualcomm, Lancia has over 20 years of experience in transformative marketing, communications, and brand strategies for various tech startups and Fortune 500 companies. Originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, she holds Bachelor's in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and will soon have a Master's in interior architecture and design from the Academy of Arts, San Francisco.

"I'm thrilled to join at such a transformative moment of growth, where marketing can play a pivotal role in building brand love, opening new customer channels, and driving lasting value. It's a true honor to be part of this extraordinary team of founders, scientists and visionaries."

Laura Chamberlain has signed on to be Nature's Path's  Chief Customer Officer (CCO). In the newly created  position, Chamberlain will guide their customer strategy across all U.S. channels, with a focus on expanding household penetration, retail partnerships, and accelerating Nature’s Path’s overall U.S. expansion. A former Chief Customer Officer at Nature's Way, her experience includes leadership positions with Danone, Bumble Bee, Hershey, Clorox, Johnson & Johnson, Advantage Sales, and Kimberly-Clark.

“As Nature’s Path continues its robust expansion in the United States, we’re proud to welcome Laura to our executive leadership team,” said Arjan Stephens, President of Nature’s Path Organic Foods. “Her deep industry experience, customer-first mindset, and passion for building high-performing teams will be instrumental as we continue spreading our mission with purpose and passion.”

Jen Caro has joined SunOpta as its new Senior Vice President of Sales. A veteran sales executive, Caro has worked with many family-owned businesses, private equity-backed organizations, and blue-chip companies. Prior to joining SunOpta, she held senior leadership roles at Dessert Holdings and PepsiCo. 

“I’m incredibly excited to join SunOpta at such a pivotal time in the company’s growth journey.  The company’s strong product portfolio, commitment to innovation, and purpose-driven culture immediately stood out to me. I’m especially energized by the opportunity to work alongside such a passionate, talented team to strengthen customer solutions  and help drive bold, strategic results on behalf of and for the benefit of our customers. I’m honored to be part of what’s next for SunOpta.”

Tore Swenson is the new Vice President of Sales at Mascot Inc. The former Hammond's Candies Senior Vice President of Sales will oversee Mascot's private label and branded opportunities within grocery, specialty, c-store and vending markets. “I’m very excited about working for Mascot – they were a business partner of Hammond’s as a manufacturer of our nut candies and peanut brittle,” says Swenson. “I was amazed to learn of all their capabilities, including chocolate enrobing, chocolate bars and chocolate molds. They also create interesting panned nuts, including my favorite, Habanero Pineapple Cashews.”

Sarah Burden is now a member of the People Science Sales team. With over 20 years of industry experience, Burden has worked with Whole Foods Market and held several roles within the natural products space including Sales & Education executive. "I’m thrilled to step into this next chapter with People Science. This thoughtful, values-driven team has built a platform that enables the entire lifecycle of clinical research: from early-stage pilots and pre-clinicals, to gold-standard randomized trials, to post-launch consumer insights and real-world citizen science. It empowers every brand to tell a compelling, credible story about their products, grounded in real-world data," shared Burden.

Sabinsa has announced the addition of several new members to its US Team:

• Julia Boyd, Creative and Brand Manager.
• Riley Alexander, Mountain States Regional Sales Manager.
• Jeff Owen, Southeast Regional Sales Manager.
• Don Edwards, West Coast Regional Sales Manager.

“Adding this caliber of talent reflects our commitment to supporting customer success,” commented Ms. Asha Ramesh, CEO of Sabinsa Americas. “Each brings specialized expertise that will directly benefit our customers in developing innovative and more effective products using our research-supported nutraceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients. This strengthens our position as the industry’s most trusted partner.”

Sabinsa Australia New Zealand (ANZ) is also adding a new member to its division with the hiring of Claire Briggs as ANZ General Manager. A qualified naturopath, nutritionist, and herbalist with experience in innovation, research, clinical trials, and regulatory strategy, Briggs will be in charge of new product development, navigating critical regulatory affairs opportunities, and driving business growth across the complementary medicine, functional foods, and sports nutrition markets. A former member of Blackmores Group, the new GM has worked with Biomedica and Global Therapeutics (Fusion Health and Oriental Botanicals brands).

“I’ve seen firsthand the exceptional quality and efficacy of Sabinsa’s ingredients through my previous work experience formulating products with them. I’m excited to be part of the team and look forward to growing the business in Australia and New Zealand, while contributing to the company’s global innovation efforts."

Larisa Pavlick has been confirmed as the new Vice President of Quality, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Cypress Minerals. A former FDA Investigator, regulatory executive at leading trade associations, consultant for startups and established brands, and 30 year industry veteran, Pavlick will focus on advancing Cypress Minerals' mission of setting a new industry standard for quality. "I am honored to join Cypress Minerals, a company renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality and scientific rigor and to making a difference," said Pavlick. "I look forward to working with the team to build on their historical expertise and to strengthen our regulatory frameworks, support product innovation, and ensure customers have access to the highest-quality resilient minerals."

Former Amazon, Starbucks, and LG executive, Hyeyoung Moon, is joining iHerb to head its customer acquisition and brand loyalty efforts as Chief Revenue Officer. "I am thrilled to join iHerb at such a pivotal time when customers around the globe are increasingly prioritizing health and wellness," said Moon. “I look forward to working with the talented iHerb team to drive growth and deliver exceptional value to our consumers across the markets we serve. Whether through personalized experiences, seamless digital journeys, or delivering trusted products, I’m energized to help iHerb expand its presence and impact.”

iHerb's newly created role calls for Moon to oversee Global Marketing, Merchandising and Customer Experience functions. Her experience, which began shortly after receiving a Ph.D. in Sociology from Stanford University and Bachelor's degree from Seoul National University, includes two decades of building brands, scaling marketing strategies, and exploring revenue growth areas of modern consumers, for companies like LG H&H Americas, a division of LG Beauty, Amazon Business, and Starbucks.

With 25+ years of Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) experience, Chris Smith is joining the Lily of the Desert team as its newest National Sales Manager. Smith has worked with several major brands handling national sales, managing key accounts, and developing profitable business opportunities. In his new role with Lily of the Desert, he will support their retail and distribution network while educating clients on the well-known benefits of the company's aloe products. “The energy at Lily of the Desert is contagious. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves, dive into the natural channel, and help grow this iconic brand in new and meaningful ways," commented Smith.

Advantage Solutions has a new Vice President of Sales, Natural/Specialty, with the hiring of Jonathan Lawrence. The University of Arizona and Arizona State University alum is a Board Member of Naturally Chicago and spent the last 11 years with Fresh Thyme Market working his way up to VP of Merchandising. "I’m excited to take on a new challenge with Advantage Solutions, joining their brokerage team and continuing my passion for the natural foods industry—just from a new perspective. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Here’s to continued growth, learning, and impact."

Awards & Honors

The 2025 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific Southwest Award has been presented to Puneet Nanda, Founder and CEO of GuruNanda. Selected by a special panel of past award winners and top industry leaders, this year's award marks the second time the exec has been chosen as its winner. "This award is proof that you can win—twice—not by being the loudest, but by being the most purpose-driven,” shared Nanda. “We’re not here to impress Wall Street. We’re here to heal Main Street.”

The 13th Annual Danone North America Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Program has revealed the winners of its 2024-2025 grant:

• Owen Hale from Vanderbilt University for investigating how antimicrobial compounds produced by Lactobacilli impact harmful bacteria, with the goal of informing new treatments to prevent dysbiosis and inflammation.
• Ella Ramamurthy from Rice University for engineering a probiotic bacterium that regulates neurotransmitter levels in the gut to support the gut-brain axis and potentially reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The winners received $25,000 to support their research towards better understanding the yogurt, probiotics and the gut microbiome. "As interest in gut health continues to grow, it's critical that we support early-stage research that helps uncover how probiotic-rich foods, like certain fermented dairy products, can influence human health," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., Vice President of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs at Danone North America. "Owen and Ella's projects stood out for their scientific merit and potential impact, and we're excited to see the discoveries their work will bring to light."