Celsius Holdings, Inc. has appointed Eric Hanson as president and chief operating officer (COO), effective March 24. Hanson will report to John Fieldly, who will retain his role as Celsius chairman and CEO. The company said this addition supports Celsius’ pursuit of category leadership in functional beverages, where there continues to be significant growth opportunities.
“Hanson will lead key growth-driving functions at Celsius and will apply his nearly three decades of experience in the food and beverage industry to unlock additional synergies with the company’s strategic partners,” said Celsius in a media release.
Hanson reportedly brings to Celsius deep experience leading sales, commercial planning and partnership management, and he most recently served as SVP of strategic partnerships at PepsiCo, where he managed a portfolio of brands representing over $3 billion in annual revenue.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eric to Celsius during an exciting time for the company as we continue to advance our compelling growth strategy to reach more people, in more places, more often,” said Fieldly. “Eric is a proven leader with a wealth of expertise, positioning him well to drive strategic collaboration among our seasoned teams and to lead the integration and optimization of our acquisitions. I know Eric closely from our partnership with PepsiCo, and this appointment supports our vision to be a high-growth leader and deliver the greatest value to our consumers and shareholders.”
Hanson added, “Celsius is driving the energy drink category’s growth. Its expanding portfolio of premium fitness and wellness lifestyle brands – soon to include Alani Nu – aligns with consumer megatrends, and I look forward to working with John and the rest of the team to help integrate this powerful portfolio, accelerate growth and innovation, and to further enhance operational excellence at Celsius.”
Hanson holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.
Image courtesy Celsius Holdings, Inc./Eric Hanson, LinkedIn
