Piping Rock Health Products taps 30-year veteran for VP customer development and strategic planning role
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. – Piping Rock Health Products on Monday announced the hiring of Richard Scoza as VP customer development and strategic planning. Scoza will be responsible for creating strategic initiatives to drive growth and development for the wholesale division of Piping Rock Health Products, including its Nature’s Truth and Sundance Vitamins brands and store brands.
“Rich has an impressive 30-plus years of experience in the dietary supplement and nutrition industry,” stated Scott Rudolph, CEO of Piping Rock. “His passion for developing an open minded, customer-centric approach to business while implementing innovative strategies aligns with our company’s core values and will make him an invaluable member of our team.”
Upon graduating from Hofstra University with a degree in business management, Scoza joined the sales and marketing team at Gerber Products, where he held several progressive positions over the course of nine years. From there, he joined Legend Pharmaceutical, where was first introduced into the nutritional supplement industry. As executive director and SVP Legend Pharmaceutical, Rich led the development and growth to over 500 stores in his 10-plus years there."
Scoza joined Nature’s Bounty in 1991 as the sales manager for the wholesale division. In his time there, he managed the Independent & Chain Sales teams, building sales, marketing and distribution for the company to help it grow to over $1.5 billion dollars in annual U.S. nutrition sales. Scoza was named president sales and marketing for the U.S. Nutrition division in 2014 and is highly recognized for his achievements within the industry.
“During our time together at Nature’s Bounty, Rich always stood out as a team leader,” said Rudolph. “He has proven success in building dedicated teams that share passion for the business.”
“My approach to the market place has always been in understanding the customer’s needs and developing unique strategies that accomplish those goals,” said Scoza. “Customers recognize this as a refreshing change, which helps build strong collaborative relationships and fosters growth.”
In his role as VP customer development and strategic planning, Scoza will be responsible for driving incremental category growth through strategic retailer partnerships. He will lead teams to develop innovative products, customer marketing and store concepts, while sharing his open-minded approach to business development, collaborating with customers and retailers alike.
“I chose Piping Rock because I recognize in its very foundation the same passion I have for bringing innovation, thought leadership and operation with the highest quality standards,” Scoza said. “I feel I am a natural fit for what Piping Rock represents. In this evolving industry, it’s not about being big, it’s about being better, and I look forward to joining the team here for a bright future ahead.”