AdvoCare International LP has announced the addition of industry veteran Brian Connolly to its board of directors. Following the retirement of AdvoCare CEO Richard Wright in September, Connolly has also taken on the role of interim CEO.
“The company and its Board of Directors are grateful Brian has agreed to assume this role and utilize his extensive industry knowledge to help move AdvoCare toward the next phase of growth,” Allison Levy, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, told DSN. “The entire team has already benefited tremendously from his deep commitment, never-ending passion and in-depth experience.”
Connolly spent 30 years at one of the leading Fortune 500 global direct selling companies in cosmetics and toiletries. He joined the company in 1978 and exceled in a succession of executive roles, ultimately being named Executive Vice President, Global Sales. He also served as a founding board member of the company’s foundation for women, which became the largest corporate philanthropy for women in the world, having raised almost $1 billion to support women’s health and empowerment initiatives.
He is now leading a company with more than 250 employees and 430,000 distributors selling its nutritional products. Founded in 1993 by Charlie Ragus, AdvoCare is based in Plano, Texas. In 2014, the company posted sales of $494 million, earning it the No. 35 spot on the DSN Global 100 and the No. 17 spot on the North America 50.
Connolly has held many board positions, including Chairman of the U.S. Direct Selling Association in 2004. In 2008, he was inducted into the Direct Selling Hall of Fame, the highest recognition given within the industry.
