Stryve Foods, a Dallas-based pioneer in healthy protein snacks, has elected Kevin Vivian as the new chairman of its board of directors, effective immediately, the company announced last week. Vivian succeeds Ted Casey in the role.
Vivian brings an extensive background in consumer goods and industry experience to Stryve. His career includes a 32-year tenure at PepsiCo, where he most recently served as SVP of national account sales and VP/GM of Frito-Lay’s $4 billion immediate consumption business. There, the company said, he expanded Frito-Lay’s business through innovation, expanded distribution, and marketing, as well as growing sales and market share through innovative marketing and sales programs.
According to the company, Vivian’s strategic capabilities and expertise in driving growth in the consumer packaged goods sector make him an ideal choice to lead the board as Stryve continues its journey toward profitability.
Commenting on his appointment, Vivian said, “I’m excited to step into the role of chairman at such a dynamic time for Stryve Foods.” He added that the company has made “tremendous progress” in its transformation and is now poised for growth. Vivian looks forward to working with the board and management team to build on the company’s momentum and achieve its strategic goals.
Focusing on ‘creating a lean operating culture’
Stryve Foods is known for its air-dried meat snack products marketed under brands including Stryve, Kalahari, Braaitime, and Vacadillos. The company positions itself at the intersection of high protein, taste, and health. Its products are Keto and Paleo diet friendly, containing zero grams of sugar and free of monosodium glutamate, gluten, nitrates, nitrites, and preservatives.
Chris Boever, CEO of Stryve Foods, outlined the company’s strategic phases, noting that Stryve is emerging from its initial transformation stages, which focused on food quality, brand renovation, productivity, portfolio simplification, and creating a lean operating culture. “Our next phase is centered around reaching profitability through quality growth,” Boever said. “Kevin Vivian is the ideal choice to serve as the company’s chairman as we execute on the final phase of our transformation and delivering that growth promise.”
Boever also thanked Casey for his “leadership and strategic contributions in his role as chairman and as one of the founders of the business.” In a statement, he added that Casey “made an incredible impact in helping the company build its manufacturing capabilities and expertise so that we could develop our fantastic portfolio of brands.”
As Boever explained, Stryve’s products “uniquely deliver” on growing consumer trends like snacking on protein, convenience, and reducing sugars and preservatives. “That’s all made possible through our innovative, one-of-a-kind manufacturing capabilities that were an outgrowth of [Casey’s] strategic vision in the early years of Stryve,” the CEO said.
Casey, who is described as a “pivotal figure” at the company, said “I’m honored to have served as chairman and am proud of what we have accomplished together.”
He added: “I’m confident that Kevin Vivian will provide the leadership needed to guide Stryve Foods through its next phase of growth and success.”
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
"Since data is crucial for maintaining ongoing DEIB initiatives and dedication, Kanarys leads the way in establishing quantifiable DEIB strategies, thanks to its data-centric methodology aimed at creating a fairer future for all work settings," says Google CDO and Kanary's Board Member Melonie Parker.
-
Sanjiv Yajnik, president of financial services at Capital One, joins Khan Academy's board after years of seeing its influence on his own family. With more than 160 million users worldwide, the academy seeks to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.
-
The board of directors of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines disclosed in the company's proxy statement that 14 candidates have been nominated to stand for election at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 15. As previously announced, the board nominated Bell CEO Lisa Atherton to join it as a new director, and directors Ron Ricks and John Montford will not stand for re-election. "On behalf of the board, I want to thank Ron and John for their long-standing commitment to Southwest Airlines. They both made an immeasurable positive impact on the board and our company, and we owe them a tremendous…
-
Ganesh Moorthy is president, CEO, and a member of the board of directors of Microchip Technology Inc. Celanese said he will join its board effective Dec. 1, bringing the total number of board members to 11.
-
Attorney Todd Jackson brings 30 years of M&A advisory and transaction experience to the board with more than $30 billion in transactions closed. Paul Choi is the CEO of Invites Ventures, the purchaser in the company’s recent private placement.
