Nutrabolt Names New CMO, Chief Growth Officer
C4 Energy parent company Nutrabolt has made two new executive level appointments with the addition of Robert Zajac as chief marketing officer and Sabba Naserian as EVP & chief growth officer.
“With a sharp focus on consumer experience and strategic expansion, I’m confident that Robert’s expertise with highly-differentiated, well-known brands, and Sabba’s acclaimed strategic foresight will strengthen our leadership team, and drive Nutrabolt to achieve on our mission and vision,” said Nutrabolt chairman and CEO Doss Cunningham in a release yesterday. “I’m proud to have a world-class team around me, and I look forward to what we’ll accomplish together.”
Though new to the food and beverage industry, Zajac brings over two decades of marketing experience to the supplements and energy drink producer. He comes to Nutrabolt from fashion retailer Abercrombie and Fitch Co. where he served as SVP, Global Brand Marketing & experience for the Hollister, Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist businesses. Before that, Zajac spent over eight years with Nike, ultimately serving as VP, Global Brand Marketing for Nike Basketball, and he has also held positions at ESPN and Grey Group.
“With amazing talent, a dedication to innovation, and a true passion for our mission, the Brand Marketing teams at Nutrabolt have the opportunity to drive a consumer-centric approach for the company and connect our brands to culture and consumers better than anyone,” said Zajac said in the release.
Zajac succeeds Rajaa Grar in the CMO role. Grar, who held the dual CMO and chief digital officer role, left the company in September, according to LinkedIn.
As CMO, Zajac will oversee the C4 Energy, Cellucor and XTEND brands and will be responsible for driving “creative innovation through existing and emerging platforms, and help accelerate growth across categories, products, and channels,” the company stated.
Meanwhile, Naserian’s appointment as EVP & chief growth officer is a homecoming for the executive, who previously served as Nutrabolt’s VP of global development from 2014 to 2016. Since then she’s held a variety of VP level roles at companies including cannabis businesses Canopy Growth Corporation and Indelible Agency.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of Nutrabolt,” Naserian said in the release. “We’re laser focused on delivering positive human impact – not only through a portfolio that will optimize human potential – but also through partnerships that strengthen the commitment to our communities. I’m looking forward to contributing to the company’s future in a meaningful way.”
Nirvana Water Sceinces Appoints Vanderveen as CEO
Former XS Energy World Wide CEO David Vanderveen has been named CEO of functional water brand Nirvana Water Sciences Corp., the company announced this week.
“David has a respected track record of innovation and disruption in consumer goods, beverages and sports nutrition, that spans over 20 years,” said Nirvana founder and chairman Andrew Cervasio in a release. “We are thrilled that he has agreed to accept a leadership role at Nirvana.”
Vanderveen ran XS from 2002 until its 2015 acquisition by multi-level marketing company Amway and remained with the brand as VP and general manager for the global division until 2018. Vanderveen later served as COO of direct selling company NewAge, Inc. from January 2020 until September 2020.
Launched in 2020, Nirvana Water Sciences produces a line of bottled waters made with functional ingredient HMB. Last year, the company named NBA All Star Kyle Lowry as an investor and brand ambassador and earlier this year announced a partnership with golfer Greg Norman.
“Nirvana’s exclusive super-ingredient infused spring waters are unlike any products in the marketplace,” Vanderveen said in the release. “In a crowded over-hyped category, our HMB-infused water stands out as a truly functional beverage that provides unique benefits of muscle integrity for better mobility and physical performance.”
Earlier this week, Vanderveen told Beverage Business Insights that he has also recruited former Mad Tasty VP of marketing Leila Khoury as interim CMO, with the possibility of bringing her on full time, as well as new board members Hal Kravitz and Caroline Levy.
WESAKE Brings on Beckham
Canned sake brand WESAKE has recruited model and photographer Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, son of iconic soccer star David Beckham, as a co-founder and partner.
“I’ve always had a profound respect and intrigue for Japanese culture. Through my travels, love of cooking and experimenting with new flavours, I was introduced to sake and felt immediately drawn to the taste,” Peltz Beckham said in a press release. “Sake deserves attention—there’s a gap in the road. Everyone’s tried it, but most don’t know the history behind it. I’m still learning a lot about the category! I’m excited to share my journey in sake education and I’m hopeful WESAKE will help others understand that you can enjoy sake anywhere, anytime, with any food, and with anyone.”
WESAKE was created by co-founder Pablo Rivera, a former venture capitalist at AB InBev’s ZX Ventures. The drink contains an ABV of 13% and retails for $19.99 per 4-pack of 200ml cans.
Cargill Names New CEO in Leadership Transition
Global food conglomerate Cargill this week named Brian Sikes as president and CEO, while current CEO Dave MacLennan will become executive chair of the board.
MacLennan served as CEO since 2013 and is credited with leading “the successful transformation of Cargill into a focused, stronger portfolio with an expanded global footprint in roughly 70 countries,” the company said. Sikes, a 31-year veteran of the company, currently serves as Cargill’s COO and brings “broad experience across multiple businesses, cycles and geographies.”
“As Cargill continues to navigate dynamic global markets, both operational excellence and a clearly articulated vision driven by purpose and values will define the company’s success, and there is no better person than Brian to lead Cargill,” MacLennan said in the release. “He’s a person of action and results, with a relentless passion for serving our customers and our people. Brian has the qualities we value in a strong leader—integrity, empathy, resilience and authenticity. Under his leadership, I am confident the best days for Cargill, and its greatest contributions, lie ahead.”