BOULDER, COLO. — Big changes are in store Yasso, a maker of frozen Greek yogurt desserts. The fast-growing novelty brand is opening a new headquarters in Boulder, Colo., and getting a new chief executive officer.
As the company prepares to hit $100 million in revenue in 2019, co-founders and co-c.e.o.s Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane are handing the reins over to Craig Shiesley. The two childhood friends founded the company a decade ago, when they were both 23 years old.
“It's been the thrill of a lifetime to work alongside our amazing team to build Yasso from a simple idea to a nationally distributed and recognized brand,” Mr. Harrington said. “We felt now was an appropriate time to select a new leader to execute our strategic growth plan.”
Mr. Shiesley has been a member of the Yasso board since July. He has more than 25 years of experience building better-for-you brands. Most recently, he was president and chief operating officer at Amplify Snacks. Before that, he was president at the WhiteWave Foods Co., where he led a plant-based business platform that included the Silk, So Delicious and Vega brands.
Since joining Yasso earlier this year, he has worked to build an executive team that can accelerate growth of the company’s base business, drive innovation and expand the better-for-you snacking platform beyond Yasso to other strategic partnerships. As the newly renovated headquarters are finalized, the executive team plans to add several operations, sales and marketing leadership positions.
“Establishing new roots in Boulder gives us a tremendous talent pool as we expand our team and capabilities,” Mr. Harrington said. “It's an exciting time for the Yasso brand and broader category, and Craig has already done a great job building out a fantastic management team with like-minded people.”
Yasso quickly became one of the fastest-growing dessert brands in the world after hitting shelves in 2011, beating many of the established, household brands. The company currently offers 18 flavors of stick bars and 9 new pints, as well its new line of Snack Buddies.
Ms. Klane and Mr. Harrington will stay close to the brand as board directors and investors, focusing on innovation and brand storytelling.