Berjé on Friday announced that Brian Hart was elevated to president. Hart, who has been with the company since 2012, previously served as chief operating officer. He assumes the role from David Herbst, who has been with Berjé since 2003. Herbst will continue on as corporate vice president, lending his five decades of industry experience to support regulatory and trade specific initiatives.
Hart brings more than 30 years of experience in consumer products to his role with the Carteret-based distributor of essential oils and aromatic chemicals. Prior to joining Berjé, he served as chief financial officer of Sportcraft Ltd., a producer and distributor of recreational products. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with Mars Inc., where he performed a progression of roles for the global manufacturer of snack food, pet care and other food products.
“While many people may not realize it, they interact with our flavor and fragrance products every day, making our commitment to quality crucial,” Hart said. “As part of a family-owned business, I value the opportunity to be able to do what’s best and right for our people and our customers.”
Hart will work closely with CEO Gillian Bleimann-Boucard as she leads the business into its third generation, focusing on growth, sustainability and continued quality stewardship and innovation.
“Brian’s skillset is unique. His leadership mixed with his passion for operations and strong financial background enable him to provide tangible and creative solutions across our organization,” Bleimann-Boucard said. “He has demonstrated a deep commitment to and understanding of our vision and values, and is dedicated to investing in our people and our systems and processes to ensure we can continue to meet and exceed the demands of our global client base.”
