Ito En (North America) Inc. has announced the promotion of Jim Hoagland to chief operating officer. Other promoted executives were Brad Angevine to Sr. VP marketing & product and Kyoichiro Asai to Sr.V.P.-Asian & DSD Division.
Joining the North American subsidiary in August 2003, shortly after the company was established and its signature Teas' Tea brand launched, Hoagland, seized the opportunity to help build a successful better-for-you beverage company in the United States, bringing more than 25 years of consumer packaged goods experience and an entrepreneurial spirit. With an unwavering commitment to high quality products and innovation, Jim has played an integral part in the business expansion into the natural and specialty markets, mainstream grocery retailers and mass market channels.
"Since joining our company, Jim has been a driving force behind the success of our company with the support of our key executives Brad and Kyoichiro," says Yosuke J.O. Honjo, president & CEO of Ito En (North America) Inc., "We are confident that the strong leadership of this team will help us strategically grow our business and achieve our long-term goals in the United States, Canada and beyond."
Ito En was awarded the prestigious Porter Prize in 2013, named after the renowned Michael E. Porter, a Professor at Harvard Business School celebrating companies that compete on the basis of value creation, innovation and strategy. The company continues to expand its beverage offerings embodying the company's five(5) principles of Healthy, Natural, Safe, Delicious and Well-designed. In addition to the Teas' Tea brand, Ito En (North America) Inc. markets the Sencha Shot brand of functional beverages, the Oi Ocha brand of traditional teas and the newly launched Jay Street Coffee and Matcha Love brands.
Prior to joining Ito En, Hoagland was vice president of sales & marketing at Carmichael Training Systems, a privately held health and fitness company founded by Chris Carmichael. His experience also includes key positions with OmegaTech, Inc., Rocco, Inc. (Shady Brook Farms), Perdue Farms and Thomas J. Lipton, Inc. Hoagland will continue to work from the Boulder, Colorado office.
Mr. Angevine joined Ito En in November 2013, with extensive beverage industry experience from Apple & Eve, Parmalat & Unilever. Based in the Los Angeles office, Mr. Asai has extensive sales experience in the Asian Sales and will continue to focus on the national expansion of this channel & DSD in select markets.
