Vitamin Shoppe names new CEO

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Vitamin Shoppe, the North Bergen-based maker of nutritional products, announced Tuesday that it has hired a new chief executive officer.Colin Watts, a veteran of the consumer products and health care industries, will start as CEO effective April 6.

 “We are pleased to welcome Colin, an experienced leader in the health, wellness and consumer products industries, to the Vitamin Shoppe,” Chairman Rick Markee said in a prepared statement on behalf of the board of directors. “He has a proven track record of setting strategic vision, driving innovation and building brands. Colin’s skills are a fantastic addition to the company, and we look forward to his leadership during the next stage of our growth.”

Watts was most recently president of Weight Watchers Health Solutions. He has also served in executive leadership positions with Walgreens, Campbell Soup Company, McNeil Consumer Healthcare and McNeil Nutritionals.

“I look forward to working with the very talented team of Vitamin Shoppe health enthusiasts to build upon what has already been accomplished as we focus on being our customers’ first choice for their health and well-being needs,” Watts said in a statement. “Together, we will focus on accelerating the growth of our company as we evolve into a trusted health and well-being lifestyle brand and destination.”

Watts succeeds Tony Truesdale, who announced in September 2014 that he was planning to retire by June after more than nine years with the company.

“The entire board thanks Tony for his leadership of the Vitamin Shoppe over the past nine years,” Markee said. “Our company was very different in 2006 when Tony arrived. He has guided the company through a period of tremendous growth, doubling the store base to over 700 and revenue exceeding $1 billion. … We wish him all the best in his upcoming retirement.”

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