Beverages

Jones 2.0

Soda maker appoints Meissner CEO; resume includes Talking Rain, Fuze, SoBe
SEATTLE -- Jones Soda Co., a leader in the premium soda category, recently announced that its board of directors has appointed William R. Meissner as the company's new president and CEO. Meissner is a veteran in the beverage industry, and brings to the company an exceptional track record of brand building and rapid revenue growth, having taken several products from ideation through commercialization.

Meissner served most recently as president of Talking Rain Beverage, a privately held company. From 2004 to 2008, he was chief marketing officer of Fuze Beverages, a new age [image-nocss] category brand leader and division of Coca Cola North America. Prior to that, he held other senior level positions in the new age beverage category including brand director and director brand development with SoBe Beverages, a division of Pepsi Cola North America as well as vice president sales and marketing of the startup venture SoBe Chocolate.

Meissner began his career with Tetra Pak Inc., a private multinational consumer beverage-packaging firm based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

"We're very excited to offer Bill the leadership of Jones at this critical time. Bill's disciplined approach to brand and market development, combined with his high energy and entrepreneurial management style, is just what the company needs as we move to capitalize on the great opportunities that we have worked so hard here at Jones to develop over the past several months," said Matt Kellogg, director of Jones Soda, earlier this month.

"Jones...has made difficult yet significant moves over the past two years to prepare itself for a new future of growth and profitability. What you will see going forward, we're calling Jones 2.0, which is a new version of a great idea that seeks to advance the company's enterprise value to match its traditionally strong brand value," Meissner said.

Headquartered in Seattle, Jones Soda markets and distributes premium beverages under the Jones Soda, Jones Pure Cane Soda, Jones 24C, Jones GABA, Jones Organics, Jones Naturals and Whoopass Energy Drink brands and sells through its distribution network in markets primarily across North America.

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