Category: People Moves

SAN DIEGO – ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRY) announced Monday that co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Richard Lowenthal stepped down from his position effective July 6, 2026, according to a press release statement. The Board of Directors appointed Donn Casale, who previously served as President, as CEO and Director effective today. Lowenthal co-founded the biopharmaceutical company in 2015. The leadership transition comes as the company trades at $8.19 per share with a market capitalization of $820 million, though the stock has declined 51% over the past year. According to InvestingPro data, the company remains unprofitable with revenue of $99 million in the last twelve months. Casale brings over 25 years of biopharmaceutical business and commercial leadership experience. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer at Dynavax Technologies, where he built the U.S. commercial infrastructure for the hepatitis B vaccine HEPLISAV-B. The product grew from launch to more than $300 million in annualized revenue and over 50% U.S. market share before Sanofi’s $2.2 billion acquisition of Dynavax. Before Dynavax, Casale held leadership positions at Depomed in marketing and sales operations. He spent 14 years at Merck in roles across sales, marketing, and corporate strategy, contributing to launches of vaccines including ZOSTAVAX, GARDASIL, ROTATEQ, and PROQUAD. Pratik Shah, chairman of the Board of Directors, stated that Lowenthal was integral to guiding the company from development to establishing neffy as a treatment for adults and children with Type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. ARS Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that commercializes neffy, an epinephrine nasal spray indicated in the U.S. for emergency treatment of Type I allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adult patients and pediatric patients who weigh 33 lbs. or greater. The product is also approved in the EU and China under different trade names. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock appears undervalued at current levels, with analysts setting price targets between $24 and $32. While the company is quickly burning through cash, it maintains liquid assets that exceed short-term obligations. For deeper insights, investors can access a comprehensive Pro Research Report covering SPRY and 1,400+ other US equities. Source: https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/ars-pharmaceuticals-names-donn-casale-as-new-ceo-93CH-4780148

Ian Morrice, the former CEO of The Warehouse Group and Australian grocery wholesaler Metcash, has joined KMD Brands as a non-executive director. Effective immediately, Morrice joins the owner of Kathmandu, Rip Curl, and Oboz shortly after it completed the latest phase in its fiscal reset. With 30 years’ experience in the retail industry across New Zealand, Australia, the US, and the UK, Morrice joins just one week after the NZX-listed retailer completed a share consolidation that reduced its share count from 1.8 billion to around 72 million. This happened last week when it converted every 25 KMD shares held by an individual shareholder into a single share to clean up a diluted capital structure. This dilution came after KMD’s emergency capital raise – assisted by Goldman Sachs – in which the retailer sold around $55 million worth of shares at a 70 per cent discount, following another period in the red on its balance sheet. “KMD Brands owns a portfolio of highly regarded outdoor and lifestyle brands with significant potential,” Morrice said. “Throughout my career I have worked with retail and consumer businesses to improve performance, strengthen customer relevance and deliver sustainable growth. I look forward to contributing that experience as the group delivers its next level strategy and develops opportunities to create long-term value for shareholders.” Philip Bowman, the group’s recently appointed chair after David Kirk’s resignation, said that Morrice will help move KMD forward. “We are delighted to welcome Ian to the KMD Brands board,” he added. “Ian has an outstanding track record leading and transforming major retail and consumer businesses across New Zealand and Australia.” “His deep operational and strategic expertise, together with his extensive governance experience and strong focus on shareholder value creation, will further strengthen the board as we continue to execute our next level strategy and evaluate other opportunities to accelerate value generation for shareholders.” Source: https://insideretail.co.nz/2026/07/07/former-warehouse-group-ceo-joins-kmd-brands-board/

Australian cultivated meat leader Vow has named Alex Andrews as its new CEO, with co-founder George Peppou becoming an executive director, as the startup cuts jobs and eyes new verticals for its cell-culture technology.A year after rolling out its cultured quail in restaurants across Australia, food tech startup Vow has seen a shake-up in the C-suite. Co-founder George Peppou, who was the CEO until last month, has stepped into an executive director role. He has been replaced by Alex Andrews, who had joined the company as its chief of staff in January. Vow also laid off several staff members in May, nearly a year-and-a-half after cutting 25 jobs due to the slow pace of regulatory approvals in several markets. The reshuffling at the top comes as Peppou leads a new stealth startup spun out of Vow, which will build on the company’s cellular agriculture technology to access markets beyond food. Founded in 2019, Vow has been a trailblazer in the cultivated meat industry. It made international headlines after appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for its experimental woolly mammoth meatball in 2023, and has always taken a taste-led, premium approach to the technology. Its unique business strategy has enabled it to raise $55M to date, and become the first startup approved to sell cultivated meat in three countries. Vow’s signature product, a cultured quail, received the green light in Singapore in 2024, where it was soon rolled out into restaurants as part of parfait and foie gras dishes. A year later, the company obtained approval in Australia and New Zealand, which was followed by a launch into both foodservice and direct-to-consumer retail. Its regulatory success was built on a host of technical milestones. Last year, Vow’s cell cultivation capacity was extended to 35,000 litres within its second factory, which it says was 20 to 50 times cheaper to build than competitors. The firm operates the largest food-grade cell culture bioreactor at 22,000 litres, and claims to have completed the largest cultivated meat harvest in history (1,500 kg). Currently, it is producing over 5,000 kg of cultivated meat per week. “Last year, Vow had a massive breakthrough on production scale and economics – now by far world-leading in low-cost cell culture,” Peppou told Green Queen, echoing a statement sent to Forbes Australia, which first reported the news. “As a result of this, we have lots of new opportunities outside of food. I and a small team have spun out to a new company focused on one of these.”The decision to appoint Andrews as Vow’s new commander-in-chief was spearheaded by Peppou, who told Green Queen that he “asked her to step into the CEO role to grow multiple new verticals, and [provide] contract manufacturing to cultured meat players globally.” He confirmed that he is still “deeply involved” at Vow as executive director, adding: “Earlier this year, we shifted from in-house food production to co-manufacturing for finished foods, and a small number of roles were impacted.” These follow the layoffs from 2025, which affected 30% of Vow’s staff across R&D, sales and communications. At the time, Peppou described them as coming from a “position of strength as the industry leader, not a position of weakness”. Vow has not revealed which new markets it’s targeting or the vertical Peppou’s spinout is focused on. But cell culture tech has a wide range of applications beyond food, including cosmetics, leather, and life sciences. Other firms have chosen to diversify too. US cultivated meat pioneer Upside Foods – the best-funded startup in the industry – branched out with a new division targeting the life sciences sector, Lucius Labs, which will offer an array of media formulations, buffers and stem cell formulations to accelerate companies’ R&D and help lower their costs. And last year, UK firm Uncommon Bio pivoted its business strategy by selling off its cultivated meat business to Vow and the now-defunct Meatable and focusing on therapeutics instead. Source: https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/vow-australia-ceo-layoffs-lab-grown-cultivated-meat-startup-cultured-quail/

Berchtold previously served as chief commercial officer at the Melbourne-based retailer, overseeing supply chain for the last 12 months. With experience in e-commerce, digital transformation, and brand curation, the executive spent time at Australian e-commerce platform The Iconic, as well as a stint as managing director of sporting goods retailer, Rebel Sport. Serving as the company’s first-ever CEO in David Jones’ 188-year history, Berchtold will be tasked with “sharpening and accelerating the execution of the company’s five-year Inspire 30 transformation plan,” according to a press release, including the actioning of “operating model improvements for greater cost efficiency and capability, enhancing the commercial portfolio for better margins and brand strength, and reigniting the David Jones brand through its customer offering and store network.” Coinciding with the appointment, David Jones also announced the completion of a new three-year, asset-backed lending facility with Hilco, which looks to strengthen “the balance sheet and provides financial flexibility to support the company’s growth initiatives and supplier partnerships,” added the company, which was acquired by Anchorage Capital Partners in 2023. “The refinancing allows us to stabilise and reset the business with a strong focus on growing our strategic core and modernising our technology and digital platforms,” said Berchtold. “My aim is to further improve customer experience by curating our brand so that our strategy is aligned with our core values and the needs of our customers. I plan to lead our incredible team of people with decisive and results-oriented action.” David Jones swung to a $95 million loss in 2025, as the cost-of-living softened consumer demand for its luxury clothing and accessories. Sales fell 8.7 per cent to $2 billion during the 12 months. Source: https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Australia-s-david-jones-names-new-ceo,1848014.html

Nestlé Japan has announced a leadership change, with Motoi Shimakawa set to become President and CEO from 1 July 2026. The company confirmed that current President and CEO Tatsuhiko Fukaya will retire on 30 June 2026 after leading the business from Kobe, Japan. Shimakawa currently serves as Senior Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of the Beverage Business Division at Nestlé Japan. Over recent years, he has led several major areas of the company’s beverage operations, including Nescafé and Starbucks CPG businesses across both in-home and out-of-home channels. The executive has also overseen digital marketing and e-commerce operations, helping drive growth through digital transformation and online business expansion. Nestlé Japan said Shimakawa also played a key role in strengthening the company’s cold coffee category, which has been growing rapidly in the Japanese market. Shimakawa joined Nestlé Japan in 2002 and has held several leadership positions across sales, beverage strategy, soluble coffee, digital commerce and new business development. The leadership transition comes as FMCG companies across Japan continue investing in digital retail channels, convenience-led beverage formats and direct consumer engagement strategies. The appointment also highlights the growing importance of beverage innovation and e-commerce leadership inside major global food companies operating in Asia. In recent years, Japan FMCG companies have increasingly focused on coffee innovation, convenience retail partnerships and digital consumer platforms as competition in the beverage sector continues to intensify. Nestlé Japan said Shimakawa will officially assume the role of President and CEO on 1 July 2026. Japan FMCG developments continue to shape beverage and retail strategies across the wider Asia-Pacific market. Source: https://www.grocerytradenews.com/nestle-japan-new-ceo-2026/

Born in 1978, Kim, the nominee, built experience in business strategy, marketing, and new business development at Google, McKinsey & Company, and Yanolja. At Yanolja, Kim served as chief strategy officer (CSO), chief business officer (CBO), and CEO of Yanolja Cloud. This personnel move is the second since Lotte Group shifted to an as-needed executive appointment system to respond flexibly to global management uncertainty and to boost the speed and execution of its businesses. On Mar. in, Korea Seven appointed CEO Kim Dae-il as its new CEO. A Lotte Himart official said, “As we work to improve our business structure and strengthen competitiveness in response to changes in the home appliance market environment, we expect Kim’s experience and youthful sensibility to help drive the company’s innovation and the discovery of new growth engines,” adding, “We have invited someone regarded as an execution-focused leader who has led business innovation based on data-driven decision-making capabilities and experience operating global businesses.” Source: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-retail/2026/06/12/YBHTD2NB5JDOXAWXAQSMXSLNTI/

Kia Australia’s newly appointed chief executive has defended recent price cuts to the brand’s slow-selling Tasman ute, saying the company is simply meeting the market where it’s at. The Finer DetailsSpeaking to carsales at the launch of the 2026 Kia PV5 Cargo electric van, the Korean brand’s local CEO, Dennis Piccoli defended the Tasman’s recent price corrections, saying it’s simply meeting the market where it’s at. Asked whether other Kia models, including the new PV5 Cargo, could get similar price cuts if initial sales don’t meet expectations, Piccoli said it was unlikely. “At this point in time, we think that [PV5] will exceed expectations, so we haven’t been thinking about the possibility of having to intervene in any way,” said Piccoli. “On Tasman, [it’s] retail season, at this point in time. You know, everyone is moving pricing with end of financial year. We’re merely playing in a market… you know, we can’t sit on the sidelines while everybody else is offering all these various discounts and offers and programs and that sort of stuff. “So, we’re meeting the market at this point in time.” As for Piccoli’s plans for in the new role, it’s ‘business as usual’. “I’ve been in the sales operations role for a number of years and working on strategically where we want to go. “So, the strategy is not going to change; there’s a few little projects internally that we need to work on [and] develop a little bit further, what with the opposition and stuff like that. “But don’t expect to see any radical changes – the strategy that we’ve had has worked and that’s been developed over a number of years, and that will continue with ongoing fine-tuning. “The market is quite dynamic… [but] there’ll be no surprises.” The Road AheadThe Tasman’s underwhelming sales have been well documented Down Under, but it’s not just Kia that’s been struggling to move ute-shaped metal. Last month, Ford slashed the price of its plug-in hybrid Ranger by as much as $15,000. The price cuts come amid slowing demand for 4×4 utes. In the first five months of 2026, the overall 4×4 ute segment – dominated by diesel-powered machines – was down almost 20 per cent year-on-year according to VFACTS sales figures, with ongoing war in the Middle East continuing to affect fuel prices Down Under. Source: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/kia-australias-new-ceo-defends-tasman-price-cuts-152245/

PH Korea said Wednesday it appointed former Pizza Hut Korea Chief Operating Officer Kim Jung-eun as its first chief executive ahead of the revamped pizza chain’s official launch next month. PH Korea, established by Winter Gold and Kclavis Investment to operate the Pizza Hut brand in Korea, is set to begin operations as the country’s Pizza Hut franchise headquarters on June 1. Kim has more than two decades of experience in the food service industry. She previously served as delivery director at Outback Steakhouse Korea and later led operations and sales planning teams at Pizza Hut Korea. PH Korea said Kim demonstrated strong operational leadership and coordination skills while managing relationships among franchise stores, headquarters and delivery platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said her appointment reflects PH Korea’s focus on field-oriented franchise management and operational execution. “Pizza Hut is a brand that helped shape Korea’s franchise restaurant culture, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility in rebuilding its value,” Kim said. “I will focus on finding answers in the field and building a PH Korea that grows together with franchise owners,” she added. The existing Korean Pizza Hut unit will continue its court-led rehabilitation process under CEO Im Seung-dae. Starting June 1, PH Korea will take over Pizza Hut’s domestic franchise operations as the company seeks to restore brand trust and strengthen its market position. Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10757158

WWF-Singapore has appointed Chew Sutat as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 June 2026. In his new role, Chew will focus on strengthening WWF-Singapore’s conservation efforts and deepening partnerships across Singapore and the wider region, according to a statement by the organisation. Chew brings more than 25 years of experience across the corporate and financial sectors, including DBS Bank, OCBC and Standard Chartered. He has served as a non-executive director and advisor to companies, start-ups, investment committees, foundations and non-profit organisations. The appointment comes as WWF-Singapore looks to expand its efforts across biodiversity conservation, climate action and community engagement. Among its ongoing initiatives is Canopy, a nature finance facility aimed at supporting up to 12,000 hectares of ecosystem restoration across Southeast Asia. The organisation is also a founding member of the Action for a Resilient Climate (ARC) Coalition, which brings together corporates, financial institutions, philanthropic organisations and government partners to support integrity and transparency in global carbon markets. According to WWF-Singapore, the initiatives are designed to mobilise climate and nature financing at scale while delivering measurable outcomes for both communities and ecosystems. At the same time, the organisation is stepping up public engagement efforts through science, education and digital innovation. WWF-Singapore said it is developing new initiatives to make conservation more accessible through hands-on experiences and collaborations with educators, researchers, conservationists and government partners across Asia. “Chew brings a strong sense of purpose, strategic focus and a deep appreciation of WWF-Singapore’s role in advancing climate and nature outcomes. The board is confident in his ability to build on the organisation’s progress and strengthen its impact across Singapore and the region,” said Hsieh Fu Hua, chairman of WWF-Singapore. Speaking on his new role, Chew said, “It is a privilege to take on this role at WWF-Singapore at such a significant milestone, as WWF-Singapore marks its 20th anniversary alongside 65 years of WWF globally.” “As we honour two decades of conservation impact from Singapore, I look forward to working with the team, the Board and our partners to carry that purpose forward and deliver greater impact for climate, nature, community and our shared future together,” he added. The appointment follows the departure of former CEO Vivek Kumar earlier this year, after more than four years with the organisation. In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE at the time, Kumar said he was stepping down to pursue a new role focused on youth empowerment across Asia Pacific. During his tenure, he led initiatives aimed at strengthening WWF Singapore’s position as a regional conservation hub, while expanding partnerships and sharpening its strategic priorities. Source: https://www.marketing-interactive.com/wwf-singapore-names-new-ceo

Harvest Technology Group (ASX:HTG) has appointed a new chief executive, and the timing is no coincidence. With its defence strategy now defined, independent validation of its technology underway, and firm commitments recently secured for a $6.5 million placement, the company is entering what it describes as its next phase of growth. To lead that next chapter, Harvest has appointed Veronica Bainton as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June. The appointment places a defence, space and national security specialist at the helm. Harvest Executive Chair Jeff Sengelman said Bainton’s appointment reflects the company’s growing focus on defence and national security markets. “Veronica brings exactly the capabilities this next phase of Harvest demands – deep defence and national security experience, a strong command of defence procurement and sovereign capability, and a proven ability to build enduring relationships across government, industry and the broader defence ecosystem.” The company also confirmed Sengelman will continue in the role of executive chair. A background spanning defence and spaceBainton arrives as an MBA-qualified lawyer with more than 15 years of experience across highly regulated, mission-critical sectors spanning defence, space, government and industry. Most recently, she served as Director, Governance and Industry Engagement at Optus Satellite and Space Systems, where she led commercial engagement activities. That included overseeing the Australian Industry Capability component of Team AUSSAT’s bid for the Australian Defence Force’s JP9102 sovereign satellite communications program. Australian Industry Capability (AIC) programs are designed to ensure Australian businesses and technologies are embedded in major defence projects. Earlier in her career, Bainton held senior contracts, commercial and Australian Industry Capability roles at defence contractor Raytheon Australia. She later moved into senior commercial and compliance roles at Newcrest Mining. She has also served as Deputy Chair of the Space Industry Association of Australia and Chair of the NSW Space Research Network. Harvest said Bainton’s professional networks extend across North American and European markets, where she has long-standing government and commercial connections. Why the appointment matters nowThe announcement comes as Harvest Tech advances a defence-focused strategy centred around its Nodestream communications platform. The company recently completed a Defence Strategy Review and has commenced independent third party technical validation of Nodestream. That validation work follows a period of growing defence momentum for Harvest. The company has been building opportunities across Five Eyes, NATO and allied markets while advancing defence-related drone trials in the Asia-Pacific region. Those trials have already resulted in equipment purchases and ongoing procurement discussions. In simple terms, Harvest is moving from proving the technology works toward expanding adoption of the platform. The company believes Bainton’s experience will help accelerate that transition. The technology at the centre of the strategyNodestream is designed to securely transmit video, voice and operational data in environments where communications networks are constrained, degraded or contested. That may sound technical, but the challenge is increasingly important in modern defence operations. Drones, autonomous systems, remote sensors and military assets can generate huge amounts of information and require uninterrupted connectivity for interoperability. Collecting information is only part of the challenge. The real difficulty is maintaining coordination, visibility and operational control when networks are congested, degraded, or under pressure. Harvest says Nodestream allows usable video, audio and data to be transmitted across very low-bandwidth networks without requiring significant network capacity. In other words, it is designed to squeeze critical information through much smaller communication pipes while helping preserve situational operational awareness and control . A focus on sovereign capabilityBainton’s appointment follows Harvest’s recent $6.5 million capital raising initiative, which is intended to support execution of its Go-to-Market Defence Strategy. Those funds will also support defence readiness and compliance initiatives, alongside further development of Nodestream. For her part, Bainton said the opportunity to lead Harvest comes at an important moment for the business. “Harvest has a genuinely differentiated capability in Nodestream, addressing a real and growing operational need for resilient communications in contested and bandwidth-constrained environments.” That focus on resilience is becoming increasingly relevant as governments place greater emphasis on sovereign capability and secure communications infrastructure. “The opportunity to lead Harvest at this inflection point — as it sharpens its focus on defence, national security and allied government markets — is one I am energised to take on.” Bainton added: “I look forward to working with the Board, the team and our partners to build sovereign capability and deliver lasting value for our customers and shareholders.” This article was developed in collaboration with Harvest Technology Group, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Source: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/stockhead/content/harvest-taps-defence-executive-to-drive-nodestream-expansion/news-story/9a455a722feb8989988f861d6f6ed708