NEW YORK — KIND Healthy Snacks (KIND), a better-for-you snack brand, has announced the appointment of Russell Stokes as the new CEO of KIND North America effective immediately.
Stokes most recently served as KIND’s chief growth officer, joining the team earlier this year. In this new role, he will lead the North American team’s efforts to uphold its nutritional principles and its mission to help others be kinder to their bodies, communities and the planet.
“During his time at Mars, and then at KIND, Russell and I have worked in close partnership to further the company’s strategic growth,” said Juan Martin, KIND’s global president and CEO. “His passion for KIND’s vision and purpose, along with his more than two decades of experience leading global teams, will be a key driver to the ongoing success of our brand.”
KIND has prioritized innovation over the past year by entering six new categories and expanding into the freezer aisle. The company is focused on providing healthier products that don’t compromise on taste.
“I have been so energized to see Juan Martin, as our global CEO, help KIND expand across 35 countries and new categories by attracting incredible leaders to bring healthy snacking options to hundreds of millions of people,” said Daniel Lubetzky, founder and chief impact officer at KIND. “Russell Stokes brings enormous strategic acumen and is very passionate about living our purpose.”
In addition to Stokes’ previous work with KIND, he has also held roles at Mars and at Boston Consulting Group where Stokes was a partner and managing director. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School and received his undergraduate degree from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London, where he studied chemical engineering and French. With a breadth of experience behind him, he said he was optimistic about the path ahead.
“Since joining KIND earlier this year, I have been inspired by our team’s deep commitment to uphold the KIND Promise as we grow and expand,” Stokes said. “I’ve enjoyed watching this purpose-driven brand grow and evolve into the household name it is today, and I look forward to the work ahead of us.”
