MISSOULA, MT--(Marketwired - Sep 11, 2014) - Rivertop Renewables (www.rivertop.com), a Montana-based producer of novel chemicals, today announced that Gerry Nuovo has joined the company as Vice President, Market Development - Consumer Products. Nuovo has more than 30 years' experience in the specialty chemicals and biotechnology industries working for a range of leaders, including Henkel, Firmenich, Codexis and Segetis.
Nuovo will lead global market development, commercialization and sales activities into consumer products markets for Rivertop's innovative, biobased products. Rivertop has developed Riose™ detergent builder to meet the performance, cost and sustainability challenges of automatic dishwashing detergent brands in markets transitioning from phosphates to sustainable alternatives.
"As we move to commercial production of our sugar acids in 2015, Gerry's deep industry experience and proven ability to create mutually beneficial partnerships with global consumer products companies will be instrumental in accelerating Rivertop's growth," said Mike Knauf, Chief Executive Officer of Rivertop Renewables.
Nuovo possesses extensive and diverse experience with building multi-million dollar income streams in the homecare and personal care markets. While at Segetis, he directed commercial development by designing and executing the product strategy and sales and marketing plan for the commercialization of bio-based chemicals. At Codexis, he created the product strategy for CodeXol™ sustainable, drop-in detergent alcohols, guiding the team to a target product specification for commercialization. As the Vice President of Sales at Firmenich, he led the Americas team to become a leading Tier 1 supplier to the company's largest account, Procter & Gamble. Nuovo started his career at Henkel in roles of increasing responsibility as a senior account specialist to Colgate, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and other global leaders.
"Rivertop's cost-competitive and high performing novel chemicals will help our customers improve their existing products as well as unlock new opportunities for innovation across their business," said Nuovo. "As consumers increasingly demand sustainability and safety in their everyday products, Rivertop is well-positioned to help our customers meet these demands without sacrificing quality or the bottom line."
Nuovo's appointment comes at a time of significant growth for Rivertop. With $26 million in funding from Cargill, First Green, Cultivian Ventures and others announced in April, Rivertop is on pace to double the size of its workforce in 12 months.
The Rivertop team has been strengthened by the hiring of 10 full time employees so far this year and is expanding its efforts to attract the sharpest minds from across the globe. Rivertop recently launched what it believes to be the first of its kind in the chemical industry -- a lifestyle blog, called "Around the Bend." Designed to showcase the benefits of working at Rivertop and living in Missoula, Montana, the blog will offer a range of content from employee posts, to reviews of area restaurants, local cultural and music events, technology and industry musings, and snapshots of happenings and sights that make Missoula unique.
"Rivertop combines a corporate culture that embraces camaraderie, work-life balance and a higher ambition, with the chance to do meaningful and stimulating work in a vibrant city with a rich culture shaped by the frontier mentality of the great West," said Knauf. "A traditional website can't capture this, so we developed 'Around the Bend' to showcase all that we have to offer."
More information about working at Rivertop, including a list of current openings is available at the website at: http://www.rivertop.com/careers.php.
About Rivertop Renewables
Based in Missoula, Montana, Rivertop Renewables has developed platform technology that produces novel chemicals from all natural resources. Merging proven science with renewable feedstocks, Rivertop is creating an abundant and economical supply of biodegradable and non-toxic chemicals and bioproducts. Rivertop's chemicals help its customers improve the performance, cost position and sustainability of their offerings. More information is available at www.rivertop.com.
Contact Information:
Media Contact:
Nate Kommers
Scoville PR for Rivertop
(206) 625-0075 x2