Nutiva, the pioneer of organic plant-based culinary products, and sister brand Coconut Secret, the leading brand of Coconut Aminos, are excited to announce the appointment of CPG industry veteran, Michael Lynch, as chief executive officer. Lynch has assumed day-to-day leadership of the company as CEO and will spearhead expansion of both brands' retail footprints throughout North America, while driving growth through innovation and new culinary products. Steven Naccarato, who previously held the role of CEO, will serve on the Board of Directors and act as Nutiva's representative for OSC2, a network of values aligned Bay Areas companies. 

A seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience in the plant-based food industry with brands including Daiya Foods, Earth's Own, Kraft Foods and Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Lynch is an entrepreneurial-minded general management executive with a love for strengthening and nurturing products that are good for people and the planet. Most recently, he held the role of president at a plant-based milk company in Canada, Earth's Own Food Company, and prior served as interim CEO at plant-based foods company, Daiya Foods. At Daiya Foods, Lynch served as a key senior team member where he architected a product innovation and portfolio strategy that expanded the brand into multiple adjacent categories and led growth from $12 million to $200 million in seven years.