March 20/West Caldwell, N.J. -- Novel Ingredient Services has hired three new executives to help manage the company’s recent growth:
• Frank J. Kimmerling:  Chief Financial Officer
• David I. Chipkin:  Vice President of Operations
• Eugene Lepelletier:  Quality Assurance Manager

According to Novel president Bob Green, the company has experienced annual double digit growth over the last several years, which is accelerating.  “When a company is expanding as quickly as Novel, it’s essential to bring on managers capable of supervising this growth while ensuring that we continue to provide the exceptional ingredients and services our customers have come to expect.” he said.
 
Key to Novel’s plans for continued growth is the addition of Kimmerling as chief financial officer. A Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Kimmerling brings more than 17 years of experience as a senior financial executive along with expertise in managing the rapid growth of manufacturing and distribution companies like Novel.

As CFO, Kimmerling will be responsible for all finance and accounting, treasury, human resources, information technology, risk management, and legal operations.  As a key member of the executive team, he will provide management oversight and strategic direction for the organization with a focus on strategic planning, profitability, infrastructure, and internal controls.

Prior to joining Novel, Kimmerling served as CFO for Medical Nutrition USA, a publicly traded nutraceutical developer serving the long-term- and acute-care markets.  There, he successfully managed the company’s investor relations and mergers and acquisition activities, resulting in a sale to Danone North America Inc. Previously, Kimmerling held similar executive positions at Lamina Lighting, Geller & Company, and BISYS Group. Kimmerling is a magna cum laude graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with concentrations in finance and computer science.  He resides in Union, N.J.
 
Chipkin, Novel’s new vice president of Operations will oversee  quality control, manufacturing, warehouse, and facility operations. He has more than 30 years of experience working with both Fortune 500 and privately held companies and has orchestrated the start-up, turnaround, expansion, and restructuring of a variety of businesses.

Previously, Chipkin was chief operating officer at Chartwell Pharmaceuticals, a prescription pharmaceutical company, where he developed product and production strategies to meet the needs of firm’s diverse customer base.  He continues to serve on the company’s advisory board.

Prior to joining Chartwell, Chipkin was the director of manufacturing for Vyteris, Inc., a drug delivery technology firm, where he transitioned the operational team from research and development to cGMP-compliant commercialization.  Previously, he held various positions at Eastman Kodak, managing single and multiple plant operations.  Chipkin holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and received his Six Sigma Green Belt certification from Villanova University.   He serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at New York Presbyterian Hospital and is an executive board member of the Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon.  He and his family reside in Kinnelon, N.J.

Lepelletier has spent more than 15 years establishing and monitoring quality assurance policies and procedures for cGMP manufacturing environments and upgrading quality systems in FDA regulated facilities – including inspections, systems validations, internal and external auditing, CAPA investigations, standard operating procedures, and customer interface.  His expertise is in reducing product nonconformities and introducing process improvements.

As Novel’s quality assurance manager, Lepelletier will supervise day-to-day quality assurance operations, ensuring that quality tools and systems are in place,  so Novel’s high-performance ingredients continue to meet and surpass both industry and customer standards, specifications and expectations in a timely manner.

Prior to joining Novel, Lepelletier was operations manager for Chesapeake Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Packaging Company’s (formally Cortegra Group), Fairfield, N.J., plant.   He held similar managerial positions at American Fuji Seal Co., Pharmaceutical Innovations, and Graver Chemical Company.  Lepelletier earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Upsala College, which was located in East Orange, N.J.  He and his family live in Somerville, N.J.