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Gimme Seaweed reveals new CMO, CRO, VP of people

The new hires underscore the brand's commitment to scaling its retail presence, it says.

Gimme Seaweed, the snack brand reportedly known for its health benefits, announced the expansion of its executive leadership team with the appointments of Sara Mendez Bermudez as chief marketing officer (CMO), Heath Rigsby as chief revenue officer (CRO), and Cheryl Knollman as vice president of people.

Following the recent appointment of former Health-Ade CEO Chris Lansing as chief executive officer, this strategic addition of three accomplished CPG leaders underscores Gimme Seaweed's commitment to scaling its retail presence, deepening its brand’s cultural relevance, and driving the next generation of healthy snacking, the company says.

"Building a world-class leadership team is a top priority as we enter an accelerated growth phase," says Lansing. "Sara, Heath, and Cheryl each bring an exceptional track record of building and scaling mission-driven brands. Together, their cross-functional expertise in people operations, brand building, and commercial strategy will be invaluable as we introduce Gimme to more consumers and expand our market leadership."

The new executive appointments:

Sara Mendez Bermudez, CMO: Mendez Bermudez is a seasoned marketing strategist who has transformed Fortune 500 consumer brands by combining creativity, cultural relevance, innovation, and commercial discipline to deliver sustained growth, Gimme Seaweed says. She most recently served as global CMO at SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands, working on the Method, Mrs. Meyers, and Ecover brand. She was attracted by the opportunity to help build the next culturally relevant global food brand rooted in authentic Korean heritage and modern consumer needs, the brand notes. She will focus on amplifying Gimme's digital footprint and accelerating brand awareness among key demographics, including Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha.
Heath Rigsby, CRO: Rigsby is a commercial executive with a track record of driving rapid revenue growth, optimizing sales operations, and unlocking deep retail partnerships with CPG experience at P&G, The Clorox Company, Burt's Bees, and most recently Liquid I.V. In his role as CRO, Rigsby will lead revenue strategy across both brick and mortar and ecommerce as Gimme continues aiming to accelerate growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
Cheryl Knollman, VP of people: Knollman is joining from Health-Ade, where she served as VP of people, and she reportedly brings deep experience in scaling corporate cultures, talent acquisition, and workforce management within high-growth organizations. At Gimme, she will oversee human resources, talent development, and organizational design, striving to ensure the brand maintains its core values, inclusive culture, and mission-driven focus during rapid expansion.

"When Annie and I started Gimme, we saw an opportunity nobody else did: turn a Korean pantry staple into a snack Americans would crave," says Stephen Broad, co-founder of Gimme Seaweed. "14 years later, seaweed snacks are a fixture on shelves nationwide, and we're just getting started. Bringing on leaders of this caliber tells you where we're headed next. They know how to scale a category-defining brand without losing what makes it work, and that's exactly the kind of firepower we need for what comes next."