Steve’s breakdown: Turning hemp into legal products!

The new guy is from the shoe business so expect a lot of new product launches which could turn into multiple advertising accounts.

VANCOUVER, BC and PORTLAND, OR: Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Nalbach as its Chief Marketing Officer, a newly-created position. With more than 16 years in the sports and fashion industries, Nalbach adds deep experience in brand and product marketing as well as go-to-market strategy to the NAT executive team. In this new position, Nalbach will lead all marketing and key partner relationships for the company.

“We’re very excited to welcome Jay to the team at this critical point in our company history,” said Ken Barker, CEO of NAT. “His experience growing business and securing market share for major global brands like adidas, Reebok and Fila will impact the adoption of our CRAiLAR fiber as we move ahead with a focus on large global brand partnerships.”

Prior to joining NAT, Nalbach served as Brand Director at adidas Group Japan KK, leading the execution of subsidiary brand Reebok’s first ever 360-degree product and marketing campaigns in Japan. Before this he was Global Head of Men’s Lifestyle Footwear for Reebok International. This came at the critical post-acquisition period of Reebok by adidas.

Prior to joining NAT, Nalbach held senior roles with adidas AG, including key work with Reebok, adidas Originals, Foot Locker Europe in footwear, apparel, supply chain and account management. His time with adidas, where he began in 1995, paused briefly for a nearly three-year senior role with Fila International.

Nalbach’s deep experience has given him remarkable global exposure, having held positions in the U.S., UK, Japan, The Netherlands and working extensively in Italy and Germany. Long-term, NAT intends for this to be a significant asset to its growth plans.

“The science behind our CRAiLAR fiber is unlike anything available in the world today,” said Nalbach. “From the way the fiber is sustainably grown and processed, to how it is integrated with global brands like Hanes, this represents a massive opportunity in terms of how we live as consumers and how the brands you love enable you to feel better about buying their products.”

After a significant period of research and development, NAT has signed purchasing or development agreements with HanesBrands, Georgia-Pacific, Levi Strauss and Company, Cintas Corporation and Ashland Inc. since March 2011.

About Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. develops renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass resources from flax, hemp and other bast fibers. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, CRAiLAR(r) Fiber Technologies Inc., has developed proprietary technologies for production of bast fibers, cellulose pulp, and their resulting by-products in collaboration with Canada’s National Research Council. CRAiLAR technology offers cost-effective and environmentally sustainable processing and production of natural, bast fibers resulting in increased performance characteristics for use in textile, industrial, energy, medical and composite material applications. The Company was founded in 1998 as a provider of environmentally friendly, socially responsible clothing. For more information, visit www.naturallyadvanced.com .

Source: