Greg Horn - Quality of Life

SUMMARY

An accomplished executive and entrepreneur with proven abilities in large corporate, private equity and entrepreneurial ventures.  Successfully served as CEO of the dominant global nutrition retailer (GNC Live Well), the top-selling nutrition brand in the natural health channel (Garden of Life), and a start-up that commercialized the nutrition products named as one of the 25 most important inventions of 2014 in Time magazine’s Genius Issue 2014 (WikiFoods).  Known for intuitive and creative strategic planning, category-creating innovation and the skill to direct and motivate world-class team performance.  Thought leader in innovation commercialization and global brand creation, prolific inventor, and best-selling author in the health and environmental sustainability field.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Specialty Nutrition, Lighthouse Point, Florida                                                                              2002 – Present
CEO and Founder
Founder and CEO of this nutrition technology commercialization firm. Lead the firm in commercializing innovative, IP-protected nutrition technologies and bringing them to market in brands that connect with consumers, often in partnership with clients.  Lead transaction diligence and turnaround management and business development consulting practice focused on the business of nutrition. Products created by the Specialty Nutrition Group team currently sell over $1.1 billion per year.  Engagements have involved creation of science-based branded nutrition companies, co-development of innovative brands, strategic and transactional advisory services for financial firms and hands-on business development and interim management of client companies.

Notable engagements originating through Specialty Nutrition Group, Inc. have included:

Brand New Brands: Co-founder of this category-creating functional food and beverage incubator.  Spinoff companies include Attune Foods (sold to Post) and Corazonas Foods (sold to private equity).

Capstone Nutrition: Interim CEO during integration and turnaround of this $200mm+ turnkey developer and manufacturer of high quality nutrition and OTC products.

Celsius: Co-founder of this successful functional beverage company (now public).

EcoShoppe: Co-founder of this specialty retailer of eco-friendly products (sold to The Vitamin Shoppe).

Flagship Ventures: Venture Partner with this leading life sciences and environmental venture firm.

Garden of Life: President and CEO of this natural supplement and organic food company during a successful two-year turnaround.  Set a focused strategy for the company, recruited an experienced management team, entered related new product categories (organic foods), and revitalized product development.  From near-default on bank loans in 2005 company was sold for $35mm immediately following turnaround, and is now the #1 brand in the U.S. natural channel.

HALO, Purely for Pets: Chairman for this leading gourmet natural pet food company.

Quantum Designs (parent company of WikiFoods, Inc.): Founding CEO for this innovative food technology and functional nutrition products company whose first products were named as one of Time magazine’s 25 most important inventions of 2014.

Pegasus Capital Advisors: Strategic and transaction advisor to this $1.8 billion middle-market private equity fund, focused on the resource efficiency, nutrition and sustainability portfolio.

Pronutria, Inc. (now Axcella Health): First professional CEO for this therapeutic protein technology company.

Lighting Science Group: Strategic advisor to this advanced LED lighting technology company.

STRONG Research: Co-founder (with nine leading Ph.D. researchers) of this science-based sports nutrition brand company (sold to Pacific HealthLabs).

WikiFoods, Inc. (now Incredible Innovations): First professional CEO for this food technology and allergen-free consumer products company.

Nutrition Capital Network, San Diego, California                                                                         2007 – present
Co-Founder and Principal
Co-founder and Chairman of the Selection Committee of this events company bringing together nutrition industry companies seeking funding and sources of capital from venture capital, private equity and strategic investment firms.

Royal Numico (acquired GNC in 1999): Zoetermeer, The Netherlands                                      1999 – 2002
Executive Board Member; Chairman, North American Executive Committee (2001-2002)
Primarily responsible for Numico’s $2.5 billion North American and supplement businesses, operating in the specialty retail (GNC), mass market (Rexall Sundown) and network marketing (Unicity Network) channels of distribution.  As Executive Board member of this $4.5 billion global specialty nutrition company, shared responsibility for the total business including infant nutrition, clinical nutrition and supplements segments.

Group Director, Nutritional Supplements (1999-2001)
Responsible for global nutritional supplements business for Royal Numico, which acquired GNC in 1999.  Developed and led U.S. and European launch of innovative research-based nutrition supplements for specific health conditions.  Led growth strategy that created the world’s largest nutritional supplement company.

General Nutrition, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania                                                                         1991 – 2002
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (and various positions leading to CEO)
Led this $1.5 billion branded specialty retailer to record market share and financial performance.  GNC is a multi-faceted company, selling both its own brands and third party products through its worldwide network of 5,600 franchised and corporate-owned stores. Managed and led growth for General Nutrition Centers, helping to create an average of $100 million in new sales each year for eleven years in a row ($400 million to $1.5 billion from 1991-2002).  Worked to create the franchising business, led the creation of GNC product brands that currently account for over half of all GNC sales, and repositioned the company from a discount format to the “GNC Live Well” premium brand. Developed and directed strategic branding, product development, design, business development and business operations as required to achieve strategic and financial objectives.  Directly responsible for identifying, negotiating and managing strategic alliances and business development from conception through operation. In senior management positions leading to CEO, led development of 3-4 new businesses and prototype retail stores per year, including the “GNC Live Well” retail store formats, a whole foods grocery/wellness center concept (Nature’s Fresh, 1998 Retail Store of the Year), an aromatherapy specialty shop, an outlet mall concept and a direct marketing business with internet commerce.

Boise Cascade Corporation, Boise, Idaho                                                                                  1989 – 1991
Corporate Planning and Development Associate
Responsible for financial analysis and planning of large capital decisions, economic forecasting, competitor analysis and assisting operating division staff in preparation of annual business plans.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, 1989 University of California Los Angeles Anderson School
Bachelor of Arts, 1987 Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa Management & Psychology, University of Redlands

PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

Author of 15 patent applications in the field of therapeutic nutrition compositions and human health applications.
Living Well: Six Pillars for Living Your Best Life (Dog Ear Publishing, 2016)
Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability (Freedom Press, 2006)
The Meaning of Light: An Illumination (Lighthouse Press, 2010) (co-author with Fred Maxik)
Retail Store of the Year and Grocery Store of the Year (Chain Store Age)
Best New Fixture Design (National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers)
Design of the Times Award (P.O.P. and Design Times)
Outstanding Merchandising Achievement Awards (P.O.P.A.I.)
“Effie” Award for Most Effective Television Advertising (NY American Marketing Association)
Global Diary Awards 2014 for best new product, and most innovative product in the global dairy industry
Product named Time magazine’s 25 most important inventions for 2014 in the Genius Issue
Numerous awards for brand and packaging design

 

Open Quote

Greg has a unique combination of intelligence, passion and discipline that turns ideas into businesses.



Dr. Susan Trimbo, Former Head of Research and Scientific Affairs, Royal Numico; Former Chief Scientific Officer, General Nutrition Centers

Close Quote