PureCircle, (LSE:PURE), the world’s leading developer, producer and marketer of high-purity Rebaudioside A (Reb A), announced today the addition of five key personnel to its U.S. operations: Dr. Sidd Purkayastha, Technical Director; Jason Hecker, Director of Marketing; Mike Wolff, Sales Director; Jacqueline Armstrong, Sales Director East Coast, and Mauricio Bacigaluppo, Sales Director Latin America. All of the new hires have extensive backgrounds in the food, food ingredient and sweetener industries.

“I’m happy to announce the expansion of our U.S. team. These key appointments will ensure the successful growth of our business in the Americas,” said PureCircle USA General Manager, Jordi Ferre. “All of these individuals bring years of food industry experience, scientific and application knowledge to their positions. They will help to continue moving our business forward with their singular expertise.”

Sidd Purkayastha, Ph.D., brings more than 20 years experience in the sweetener industry to his position. He has broad knowledge of the structure-function of food ingredients, including sweeteners, starch, acids and hydrocolloids. Dr. Purkayastha earned his doctorate in food engineering from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from the University of Illinois.

As director of marketing, Jason Hecker brings to his new role brand marketing experience from Kraft Foods, as well as, strategic and entrepreneurial skills from years spent working in the consulting industry. Mr. Hecker earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Before joining PureCircle, Mike Wolff held a series of sales positions with increasing responsibility, including The Nutrasweet Kelco Company. Most recently, he was vice president of sales and new product development at Tampico Beverages in Chicago, where he was instrumental in securing new distribution channels and substantially increased sales. Mr. Wolff earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Jacqueline (Jacey) Armstrong is a sales veteran in the sweetener industry who has sold sugar, as well as other nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners for 20 plus years. She began her selling career right out of university and honed her talents in a number of companies large and small, most recently at Corn Products International. 

A sales and marketing professional with 20 years experience in global leading food ingredient companies, Mauricio Bacigaluppo will be responsible for establishing a sales presence for PureCircle in Latin America. Previously, Mr. Bacigaluppo worked in sales and business development for Tate & Lyle, Johnson & Johnson, Nutrinova and Hoechst in Latin America. He has a degree in chemical engineering and is fluent in three languages—Spanish, English and Portuguese.

About PureCircle
PureCircle is a pioneer in the extraction of natural goodness from plants and the world's leading producer of high-purity Rebaudioside A (Reb A), with a vertically integrated supply chain operating in three continents. PureCircle markets a range of natural, high-intensity sweeteners internationally. Activities range from sourcing of dry stevia leaves and extraction, refining of crude extracts into sweeteners and marketing of these sweeteners to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. PureCircle is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market with the ticker symbol: LSE.PURE. For more information, visit www.purecircle.com.