Nutrition 21, LLC, Purchase, NY, a leading developer and marketer of efficacious, high-value, patented nutritional products whose health benefits are substantiated with clinical research, has hired Joe Weiss as the company’s president. Mr. Weiss’ top priorities will be to accelerate the company’s growth with product innovation, science and branding.
 
Mr. Weiss is an accomplished leader who joins Nutrition 21 with a strong legacy in product and brand development in the nutritional supplement market. For the past six years he was vice president of corporate brands at Vitamin Shoppe, Inc., a multi-channel specialty retailer and manufacturer of nutritional products and
was responsible for product development, sourcing, quality and scientific and regulatory affairs. Previously Mr. Weiss was senior vice president of Merchandising at GNC.
 
“I look forward to working with our team to maximize the sales and consumer awareness of Nutrition 21’s premier ingredients, Chromax chromium picolinate, Nitrosigine bonded arginine silicate and Velositol amylopectin chromium complex; all patented, science-based ingredients that offer many validated benefits supporting metabolism, lean body mass, mental acuity and enhanced athletic performance. This is an exciting time to be joining Nutrition 21 and I will focus on expanding product development into new categories by leveraging the excellent reputation the Company has built in the nutrition industry,” Mr. Weiss said.
 
Michael Satow, CEO of Nutrition 21 said, “Joe brings a wealth of experience to Nutrition 21 and we are immensely pleased to have him on board as President. I believe he is uniquely qualified to drive our business forward as we develop and commercialize important new ingredients for supplements, functional foods and beverages.”
 
Sara O’Brien has also joined the company as general counsel of JDS Therapeutics, and its wholly owned subsidiary Nutrition 21.
 
Ms. O’Brien joins Nutrition 21 after working in the intellectual property departments of Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Ropes & Gray, where she most recently specialized in patent litigation. Sara’s private practice included extensive intellectual property work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors as well as intellectual property portfolio management. Her litigation experience encompasses a range of technologies, including biologics, pharmaceuticals, computer software, and other technologies. Her practice also encompassed intellectual property-based commercial transaction work such as complex contracts, licensing and supply agreements and bankruptcies.