Quality of Life Labs, Kemin, Kyowa Hakko, InstantGMP and Lallemand all welcomed new personnel and exciting leadership changes to better position their businesses within the industry.

Dan Lifton, CEO of Quality of Life Labs, recently became one of the board of directors for the Organic & Natural Health Association. Lifton was appointed among a group of leaders from various companies within the natural products industry, including Steve Rye, CEO of Mercola Health Resources; Alan Lewis, director of food and agriculture policy at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage; Todd Norton, vice president of business development at Aker BioMarine; and Reid Tracy, president and CEO of Hay House Inc., among others. The Organic & Natural Health Association is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to creating and promoting transparent business practices that safeguard access to organic and natural food, products and services. The organization determined their new leadership board by choosing individuals who embodied their principle of advocating the highest level of standards in the natural products industry.

Another exciting move involved Frederick Khachik, a renowned carotenoid scientist, who recently joined the Kemin human nutrition and health division. The driving force for Khachiks’ reunion with Kemin is the company’s focus on exploring the health benefits of dietary carotenoids in maintaining and promoting health. Kemin and Khachik collaborated in 1994 on the commercialization of FloraGLO® Lutein, which is used worldwide as an ingredient in multivitamins, eye formulas, skin care products, foods and beverages. Khachik has 12 patents and has written 64 peer-reviewed publications and 18 book chapters. Since 1990, he has also delivered more than 100 lectures on carotenoids at national and international conferences, including 36 invited and plenary lectures. Throughout his career, Khachik has received several awards, scholarships and memberships in professional societies.

In addition, Lars Asferg joined Lallemand Inc. to head its bio-ingredients division. He will succeed Kevin Kraus next year when Kraus moves to a new senior management position. Asferg comes to Lallemand with 25 years of general management experience in biotechnology and food ingredients, most recently as vice president of innovation for DSM Food Specialties. Lars is based at the Lallemand offices in Zug, Switzerland, and he will be responsible for the division’s baking solutions and bio-ingredients business units.  

Kyowa Hakko USA’s marketing team also welcomed Elyse Lovett into the role of marketing manager. Lovett will manage the marketing activities in North and South America. She has significant nutrition industry experience after holding various positions in marketing, sales and research, including marketing manager at AarhusKarlshamn, a Swedish-Danish manufacturer of high-value added vegetable oils and fats.

And finally, InstantGMP added Angelo Nardone as chief technology officer, where he will be responsible for the next phase of development of InstantGMP’s manufacturing execution system. Some of his duties will involve barcode functionality, workflow overhauls, mobile and data design. Nardone has held several leadership positions in software development and technology, with his most recent experience in developing large enterprise-wide systems for life science companies. Most notably, he reorganized the IT and data management departments for BioRasi, a contract research organization, to be in compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 and HIPPA requirements.