Harvest Hill Beverage Co., based in Stamford, Connecticut, and a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners VII LP, has completed the establishment of its senior executive team. Harvest Hill was formed by Brynwood VII in June to acquire Juicy Juice, the iconic 100% juice brand, from Nestle USA.
The following executives have joined the company:
• Salvatore DePrima, president and CEO, most recently worked at IRI as an executive in the Client Insights Group. His previous experience includes work with Cadbury Schweppes/Mott’s LLP USA business and Dr Pepper Snapple Group
• James Sheppard, CFO, most recently was a principal with Beechwood Advisors LLC. His previous experience includes work at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Legends Hospitality LLC, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., Deer Park Spring Water Co. and the Western Union Co.
• Richard Hubli, SVP of operations, most recently worked at High Ridge Brands Co., a Brynwood Partners VI LP portfolio company, as VP of operations. His previous experience includes work with The Colgate-Palmolive Co., Cadbury Schweppes/Mott’s LLP, Nestle USA, PepsiCo Inc. and General Foods’ Maxwell House unit
• Ilene Bergenfeld, chief marketing officer, most recently worked at PepsiCo Inc. as senior director in the Global Snacks and Beverages Group. Her previous experience includes work with Mott’s LLP, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, American Home Products and The Colgate-Palmolive Co.
• David Champlin, SVP of sales, most recently worked at Nestle Waters USA as the national sales manager for the drug and natural foods channels. His previous experience includes work at Veryfine Products Inc. and Mott’s LLP.
“With over 60 years of combined beverage experience, we plan to leverage Juicy Juice’s core nutritional and wellness attributes to restore growth to this strong franchise,” Sal DePrima said.
Added Henk Hartong III, chairman of Harvest Hill and chairman and CEO of Brynwood Partners, “We are delighted to have attracted such a talented management team to Harvest Hill, a business that we plan on aggressively growing both organically and through strategic acquisitions.”