Green Innovations taps new CEO

Green Innovations has promoted its VP of sales Jeff Thurgood to CEO



Thurgood has 30 years of industry experience including 16 years with Kimberly-Clark, where he served in the corporate headquarters as national merchandising manager of Huggies Baby Wipes, Depend and Poise Adult Care brands, and as trade marketing director of Target Brands.



Thurgood succeeds Philip Rundle who will serve as a consultant to the company through year-end. According to the company, Rundle is resigning as CEO and member of the board because of a family health matter.



"Phillip has performed admirably, moving the company forward from a fledgling developmental stage company to one with several products being distributed by leading retailers, in just 18 months. As a consultant to the company, we will continue to benefit from his expertise, insight and many valuable industry relationships," said Bruce Harmon, chairman of the board.



"Jeff is a highly accomplished and respected executive in the consumer paper products industry who was overdue to step into a CEO role. Jeff's strong leadership on various project-management teams will make the transition seamless," added Rundle.



Thurgood has served as Green Innovations' VP of sales since 2013, where he has been instrumental in opening up numerous new retailer and distribution relationships including Albertsons, Hy-Vee, Ingles, Lucky, Save Mart, SuperValu and Wakefern, according to the company.



Thurgood is credited with leading business growth results at PepsiCo from 1985 to 1991, as district manager of on-premise sales and later as district manager of retail sales. He was then recruited by Kimberly-Clark, where he was responsible for driving positive results for more than 15 years as field sales training manager at K-C headquarters in Neenah, Wisconsin; district team leader, in the Pacific Northwest markets; national merchandising manager of Huggies Baby Wipes and Depend and Poise Adult Care brands at K-C headquarters in Neenah, Wisconsin, and trade marketing director, Target Brands, K-C team, Minneapolis.



He was then recruited by Pure Fishing, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, as sales director. In 2009, Thurgood re-entered the paper industry as VP of sales with Oasis Brands to help create, build sales structure for and market the Fiora brand. In September 2013, he was recruited by Green Hygienics as VP of sales.



Thurgood is also the founder and sits on the board of directors of Good Legacy and Another Legacy. He earned a bachelor of arts in management from The University of Phoenix.



"I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Green Innovations into a bright and prosperous future. With the strong foundation built by Philip, Bruce and the rest of our team, I am confident 2014 will prove to be a pivotal year at Green Innovations in which we break out to new, higher levels of market share through new products, retailers and strategic relationships. We are also actively pursuing a number of potentially game-changing projects and strategic initiatives," said Thurgood.



Green Innovations Ltd., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Hygienics, is the exclusive licensed North American distributor of American Hygienics Corporation's 100% tree-free bamboo-based product line, including personal care and paper-based goods. The marketplace for tissue paper products, diapers, wet wipes, feminine care products, and adult care products, is in excess of $29 billion annually in the United States.