Innovative Protein Bar Company thinkThin® Promotes Michele Kessler to CEO, Eyes Expansion into Other Food Categories

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- thinkThin today announced the promotion of Michele Kessler from President to CEO of thinkThin LLC, effective January 5, 2015. Kessler has served as President of thinkThin, a protein bar company based in Southern California, since January 2014. Current CEO and founder Lizanne Falsetto will remain actively involved with the company as a Board member.  Since 2011, the company has been a portfolio business for TSG Consumer Partners, a leader in building and investing in prominent middle-market branded consumer companies.

The company was founded in 1999 by Falsetto and today thinkThin is a leader in the protein bar category.  thinkThin protein bars are among the fastest growing in the category with national distribution across major retailers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Kroger, Walmart, Target, and Walgreens.  Under Kessler's direction, thinkThin will invest in building awareness and trial of the existing product lines as well as launching innovative new products that expand the brand in bars and into other on-trend categories.

"When I hired Michele, I knew that her extensive expertise and demonstrated success in growing brands and driving breakthrough innovation was a perfect match for a rapidly growing food company like thinkThin," said Falsetto. "I fully expect that her vision, marketing savvy, and passion for innovation for the brand will continue to fuel thinkThin's market share growth going forward."

Kessler joined thinkThin in October 2013 as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer and was promoted to President just four months later.  During her tenure with thinkThin, Kessler spearheaded the company's first integrated national marketing campaign that included a tongue-in-cheek "Guilt-Free" platform that played out in TV, print, digital, social media, and in 2015 will also include cinema advertising.  While she was President, the company launched its most successful new product line-extension with the introduction of thinkThin Lean Protein & Fiber bars.

With over 20 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, Kessler previously served as Vice President, Global Chocolate Strategy and Vice President, Chocolate U.S. at Mars, where she improved top and bottom line performance and increased market share for iconic brands such as M&M's^® and Snickers^®.  She also spent eight years at Kraft Food Group where she held senior marketing positions in the Biscuit and Confections divisions. Kessler began her CPG career at Procter & Gamble, where she progressed through assignments of increasing responsibility in the company's laundry and household cleaning categories. 

About thinkThin LLC^®
Since launching in 1999, thinkThin LLC^® has been committed to making food that is as nutritious as it is delicious.  From High Protein Bars that are certified gluten-free to Protein Nut bars made from non-GMO ingredients, thinkThin believes in using high quality ingredients that provide a good source of protein. thinkThin has been recognized by media industry leaders such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes. In 2014, Entrepreneur Magazine named thinkThin as one of the most innovative consumer brands.  For more information, please visit www.thinkproducts.com.

About TSG Consumer Partners LLC
TSG Consumer Partners LLC is a leading investment firm with over $2.9 billion in equity capital under management, focused exclusively on the branded consumer sector. Since its founding in 1987, TSG has been an active investor in the food, beverage, restaurant, beauty, personal care, household and apparel & accessories sectors. Representative past and present partner companies include Paige Denim, REVOLVE, vitaminwater, popchips, Muscle Milk, Raybern's, Dogswell, Yard House, Smashbox Cosmetics, Pureology, e.l.f. cosmetics and Alexis Bittar. For more information please visit www.tsgconsumer.com.

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SOURCE thinkThin

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