공고 • Mar 20
Kaival Brands Announces Appointment of Three New Directors to the Board
Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Paul Reuter, of Kreative Collaborations, LLC and formerly of MidWest Retail Group LLC, Carolyn Hanigan, former President of Reynolds American Innovation Company, and Roger Brooks, Chairman, Treasurer, and Co-founder of Abierto Networks LLC, to its Board. With the addition of Mr. Reuter, Ms. Hanigan, and Mr. Brooks, all of whom will be independent under applicable Nasdaq rules, the Company's Board will have five directors. As previously announced, the Company has applied for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and in addition to gaining the valuable experience and judgment that the new members will bring to the Board, the appointments of Mr. Reuter, Ms. Hanigan and Mr. Brooks are intended to ensure the Company is in compliance with certain Nasdaq corporate governance rules ahead of its planned Nasdaq uplisting. Mr. Reuter brings nearly five decades of industry experience in small box retail as a journalist, editorial director, entrepreneur, and speaker. He has launched two successful businesses, including MidWest Retail Group LLC, which was the largest U.S.7-Eleven franchise group, where he served as Chairman and founding partner from April 2013 through June 2019. He is also the founder of Kreative Collaborations, LLC, an industry consultancy. Prior to his current endeavours, Mr. Reuter purchased CSP Information Group Inc. ("CSP Information Group") in 1991 and served as the Chief Executive Officer until July 2012. In July 2012, CSP Information Group was sold to CSP Business Media, now Winsight LLC based in Chicago, Illinois. Under his leadership, CSP became the industry leader in market share and a well-respected industry journalism entity. Mr. Reuter also serves as a director of Abierto Networks LLC ("Abierto Networks"), a digital media and engagement technology company focused on the convenience store, retail, and other similar consumer market segments. Prior to her retirement, Ms. Hanigan was the President of Reynolds American Innovation Company, an operating company of Reynolds American, Inc. ("RAI"), between January 2016 and June 2018. Ms. Hanigan led the global vapor collaboration with British American Tobacco ("BAT") up until RAI was acquired by BAT in 2017. Ms. Hanigan was the architect of RAI's U.S. reduced risk products strategic direction to further the vision of transforming tobacco. Under her leadership, RAI prepared both the U.S. commercial execution and regulatory applications for the Glo tobacco heating products, the Velo nicotine pouches, and the Alto, Ciro, Vibe and Solo nicotine vaporizers. Prior to her time at Reynolds America, Inc., she was Vice President of Consumer Marketing at Swander Pace Capital, one of the leading consumer products private equity firms. While at Swander Pace Capital, she provided consumer-led insights needed to make investments, accelerate portfolio company growth, and generate superior returns on exit. She worked with the portfolio executive teams at Merrick Pet Care, Kicking Horse Coffee, Wholesome Pet Care, Oregon Ice Cream, glo Professional, Gilchrist and Soames, and Voortman's Cookies. From July 2008 until October 2010, she served as the Chief Marketing Officer of The Nutro Company, the operating company of Mars Pet Care, Inc.Ms. Hanigan spent almost a combined 10 years in marketing at Nestle S.A. and sales and marketing at The Clorox Company. She holds a Bachelor's degree in business from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration degree from St Mary's College. Mr. Brooks is currently the Chairman, Treasurer, and Co-founder of Abierto Networks, positions he has held since 2005. Prior to his roles at Abierto Networks, from 1998 to 2008, Mr. Brooks was the lead independent director and member of the compensation and audit committees for Moldflow Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed software company that was sold to Autodesk, Inc. in 2008. From 2017 to 2019, Mr. Brooks served as an independent director of Lytron, Incorporated, a closely held international industrial solutions company. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Brooks served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of the board for Intelligent Controls, Inc., a publicly traded software and instrumentation company, which was sold to Franklin Electric Co. Inc. Mr. Brooks was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a board member of Dynisco, Inc. from 1987 to 1996 where he grew the company from $10 million of sales to an international company with over $100 million of sales. Roger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University, Stern Graduate Business School. He is also a graduate of the Stanford University Executive Management Program.