Marc de Grandpre, former Managing Director of the New York Red Bulls®, has accepted an offer to join the Purple Beverage Company’s marketing team in his new role as Vice President of Marketing alongside two other former Red Bull team members; Dan Morelli, former director of sales for Red Bull® North America, Inc., and Keith Riley, former national director of on-premise for Red Bull® North America, Inc.
Mr. deGrandpre’s career spans many years, including directing East Coast marketing for the team’s parent company, Red Bull® North America, where he elevated the unit from third to first place in sales volume for the company in just 18 months and was credited with implementing consumer marketing strategies that grew the company’s consumer brand awareness from 13 to 91 percent, resulting in an average yearly sales increase of 122 percent during his five years in that position. He also served as Global Product Manager for Nike Bauer Hockey, where he was instrumental in establishing Bauer as the co-leader in the protective equipment category.
Ted Farnsworth, Founder and CEO of Purple Beverage Company, maker of the all-natural antioxidant-rich beverage, Purple, said, “We are thrilled that Marc has agreed to come over to the Purple Beverage team. With more than nine years at Red Bull®, first as a Director of Marketing and then as Managing Director of the New York Red Bulls® soccer team, he has the marketing and promotions experience to help make Purple a household name.”
“I’m excited to work with an emerging brand like Purple, which will bring me back to my beverage roots,” said de Grandpre. “I’ve been watching Purple aggressively take over market position since it launched late last year and look forward to joining an innovative beverage company, once again, with the goal of taking its brand to the next level.”
“Marc has proven time and again that he is a results-oriented leader who exceeds sales goals and positively impacts the brands with which he is associated,” added Farnsworth. “We are confident that his combination of strategic planning and innovative grassroots and sports marketing experience will further accelerate Purple’s rapid pace to becoming a national brand.”
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