ThinkThin LLC, Los Angeles, has promoted president Michele Kessler to CEO, effective today. Kessler has served as president of the protein bar company since January 2014. Current CEO and founder Lizanne Falsetto will remain actively involved with company as a board member.
Under Kessler’s direction, thinkThin will invest in building awareness and trial of the existing product lines as well as launch innovative new products that expand the brand in bars and into other on-trend categories.
“When I hired Michele, I knew that her extensive expertise and demonstrated success in growing brands and driving breakthrough innovation was a perfect match for a rapidly growing food company like thinkThin,” says Falsetto. “I fully expect that her vision, marketing savvy and passion for innovation for the brand will continue to fuel thinkThin’s market share growth going forward.”
Kessler joined thinkThin in October 2013 as chief marketing and innovation officer and was promoted to president just four months later. Before joining thinkThin, she served as vice president, global chocolate strategy, and vice president, chocolate U.S. at Mars Inc. She also spent eight years at Kraft Food Group, where she held senior marketing positions in the Biscuit and Confections divisions.
Since 2011, thinkThin has been a portfolio business for TSG Consumer Partners LLC, an investment firm with more than $2.9 billion in equity capital under management, focused exclusively on the branded consumer sector.