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Avon Products Inc.
 Sara Mathew |
Avon Products Inc. announced that its board of directors has elected Sara Mathew to the board. Mathew’s election increases Avon’s board to 11 Directors.
Mathew retired this year from her position as Chairman and CEO of The Dun & Bradstreet Corp., where she led a transformation of that company from a data provider to an innovative digital enterprise.
Mathew joined Dun & Bradstreet in 2001 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 2007, after increasing roles of responsibility, she was named President and Chief Operating Officer, and in 2010 she was named Chairman and CEO. Prior to Dun & Bradstreet, she spent nearly 20 years with The Procter & Gamble Co.
Mathew is a member of the Zurich International Advisory Council and a director of Campbell Soup Company and Freddie Mac.
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with nearly $11 billion in annual revenue. As one of the world’s largest direct sellers, Avon is sold through more than 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives in over 100 countries.
Herbalife Ltd.
 Maria Otero |
Global nutrition company Herbalife announced the appointment of Maria Otero to the company’s board of directors. Otero has spent her career tackling poverty and empowering those less fortunate around the world, and she will bring this leadership, experience and insight to the Herbalife board.
Otero joins as an independent Director. She currently serves on the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the boards of Kresge Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation and Development Alternatives Inc.
Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Otero came with her family to the U.S. when she was 12 years old. After studying economics in college with the intention of tackling global poverty, in 1986 Otero joined Accion International, one of the first micro-lending organizations in the world. She was later named President and CEO.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton appointed Otero to the board of the United States Institute of Peace. In June 2009, she was nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, which made her the highest-ranking Hispanic official at the State Department, and the first Latina Under Secretary in its history.
On Jan. 17, 2012, Secretary Hillary Clinton named Otero as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.
Otero was recognized by Newsweek in October 2005 as one of the United States’ 20 most influential women, and by Hispanic Business magazine in its “Elite Women of 2007.”
Herbalife Ltd. is a global nutrition company that sells weight-management, nutritional and personal-care products intended to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in more than 90 countries to and through a network of independent distributors.
Viridian Energy
 Meredith Berkich |
Viridian Energy has announced it has strengthened its management team through recent appointments.
Meredith Berkich was promoted to the role of President of Viridian Energy. Berkich was also appointed an Officer of the Trust. Berkich brings 20 years of experience in leadership and expertise in direct selling and will work to grow Viridian’s field sales systems. She will partner with field leaders and the executive team to strategize, build and enhance their growth through compensation, sales incentives, training programs and events.
 Cami Boehme |
Cami Boehme was promoted to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer. In her new role, Boehme will oversee strategic product innovation and help plan the overall strategic direction of the company. Prior to her promotion, Boehme served as Senior Vice President Marketing and Brand Strategy for Crius Energy. Previous experience includes being Partner and Brand Director for a Utah-based creative services firm, as well as the Founder of Digital Slant, a Utah-based brand consultancy.
 Chaitu Parikh |
Chaitu Parikh was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Parikh has 16 years of experience in the retail energy industry, most recently serving as CEO/President of MXEnergy.
Also, Pradeep Tiwari was appointed to the position of Vice President of Information Technology. Tiwari has nine years of experience in the retail energy industry with energy retailers including MXEnergy and Constellation.
Located in Stamford, Conn., Viridian Energy is a socially responsible retail energy supplier offering customers the opportunity to make a difference by choosing affordable green energy for their home or business. Viridian is owned by Crius Energy Trust.
Regal Ware Inc.
 Jose Luis Oropeza |
Regal Ware Inc. has announced the appointment of Jose Luis Oropeza as President of its Kitchen Fair® Division. In this role, he will lead Kitchen Fair’s internal and external management teams and be responsible for all components of the business. The Kitchen Fair Division of Regal Ware is located in Arlington, Texas.
Oropeza brings more than 25 years of direct selling experience in North and South America, with an emphasis in sales and marketing. He has held senior-level management positions and most recently headed his own consulting services company in Orlando, Fla.
Regal Ware is a U.S. direct seller and manufacturer of high-quality stainless steel cookware and cast aluminum cookware with a history that dates back to 1911. Kitchen Fair is a unique line of superior-quality cast aluminum cookware sold through a traditional home party plan.
Organo Gold
 Daisuke (David) Nakajima |
Organo Gold, a global gourmet coffee company that caters to consumers’ active lifestyles, announced that Daisuke (David) Nakajima has joined Organo Gold as the Managing Director for Organo Gold Japan. Nakajima will oversee all facets of OG’s Japan business.
Nakajima brings over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, finance and operations for such global brands as Nike, Adidas and Foot Locker. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Sales and Japan Director for another direct seller.
Founded in 2008 and celebrating its fifth anniversary, Organo Gold is a direct seller of Ganoderma-infused coffee and other products. Organo Gold offers its products through more than 150,000 Independent Distributors in 32 countries.
Zrii LLC
 Matt Ward |
Zrii LLC announced that Matt Ward has been appointed Vice President of Global Sales. He will be responsible for driving a new marketing message and play a major role in building the field.
As a nine-year veteran of direct sales in both the field and corporate side, Ward was previously a top distributor at another direct seller. Before that he served as Marketing Director for the American Grand Prix.
Zrii, a maker of all-natural nutrition and wellness products, was founded in 2008. Zrii partners with the world-renowned Chopra Center for Wellbeing, headed by Dr. Deepak Chopra, to create premium health products that integrate ancient wisdom with modern science. Zrii products are sold through a network of Independent Executives throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.
Vidacup International
 Carrie Ruelle |
Vidacup International, a marketer of a line of healthy coffee and functional beverages, announced the appointment of Carrie Ruelle as its new Vice President of Operations.
Ruelle began her direct sales career in 1995 and within two years rose to the top-ranking position in her first direct selling company. Over the next 10 years she obtained valuable experience as a successful field leader within the industry. Ruelle spent the following years as an instrumental partner in the creation of two successful healthy coffee direct sellers that have produced multimillions in sales and global expansion in over 50 countries.
Vidacup International is the exclusive distributor of an enzyme extraction of the Agaricus blazei mushroom super-strain.
Empower Network
 Jonathan Cronstedt |
Software and web marketing company Empower Network named Jonathan Cronstedt as the company’s new CEO.
Cronstedt will manage the company’s growth and development as well as its brand and product development. He has experience leading direct marketing and Internet-based companies and previously served as the CEO of Digital Marketer. He is also the Chairman of Prodigy Consulting Group, a full-service finance and consulting organization.
Empower Network Co-Founder David Wood, who previously served as the company’s CEO, now becomes the company Chairman.
Empower Network offers six unique business and marketing software products and tools, including its signature product, a viral blogging system. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and founded in 2011, Empower Network’s products are sold through 38,000 affiliates and 80,000 members.
Univera Inc.
Univera Inc. announced two new additions to its board of directors. Ken McDonald and Tom Zimmer join Univera’s board as independent members. McDonald retired from another direct selling company after decades in senior management positions, including Senior Vice President/Managing Director of the Americas. Zimmer also held senior positions within the industry, having served as President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President/Managing Director of North America.
Univera’s board of directors also includes Chairman and Owner Bill Lee, retired finance executive Barbara Anderson, ECONET President and CEO HY Sung, and Univera President and CEO Randy Bancino.
Univera Inc. is a direct seller in the natural products industry, delivering high-quality health products to hundreds of thousands of customers across North America. A part of the ECONET family of companies, Univera is fully integrated from farm to family.
