As many of you know, longtime owner, Shawn Donnille, returned to an active role as CEO of Mountain Rose Herbs at the beginning of 2020, just as the first Covid-19 cases were reaching Oregon. Like so many companies, we were deeply impacted by the realities of trying to do business during this time. Now, after navigating Mountain Rose through a radical restructuring, Shawn is able at last to step back and pass the day-to-day operations to two trusted, longstanding employees. We want to express our gratitude to him for being the driving force that pulled us through such trying times, and we want to let you know about the exciting leadership changes we’re making.
Shawn remains the Owner and President of Mountain Rose Herbs and will continue to be active with the company. However, he believes it is time for new leadership to foster and expand continued growth and long-term sustainability. As herbal companies are increasingly being acquired by private equity firms, investment holdings, and venture capitalists, Shawn is dedicated to staying the ethical course and holding to his promise of permanence. "I would like to take this opportunity to say that I have promised my employees and I promise all of you reading this that Mountain Rose Herbs will remain staunchly independent and run by real human beings that care,” he said. “We will always be privately owned. We will stick to what we know and what we do best. And our focus will always be on protecting and enhancing the delicate ecosystems that we rely on while delivering the same exceptional products and services that you have come to know us for.”
With the goal of putting the most qualified and passionate people in positions where they can do their best work, Shawn has passed the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to longtime Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Cameron Stearns, who will also retain her CFO position and has promoted Chief Marketing Officer, Thomas Dick, to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer.
A Mountain Rose Herbs employee since 2014, Cameron Stearns is a board-certified CPA, holds a degree in International Relations, and possesses many years of industry experience, including being an active member of Women in Nutraceuticals. She is guided by the belief that the nature of business is to serve and passionately seeks to expand the mission-driven practices that ensure that people, plants, and planet will always come before profit at Mountain Rose Herbs. This tenet remains her North Star for navigating the waters of achieving steady company growth with sustainability at the forefront.
“I am honored to step into this new role leading the dedicated team at Mountain Rose Herbs," Stearns said. "In the herbal products community, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find independent, privately-owned botanical suppliers, let alone one as committed to organic agriculture as Mountain Rose Herbs. Given our devotion to excellent quality and sustainability, I could not imagine a better alignment with my passions and skills.”
Our new Executive Vice President, Thomas Dick, is a 15-year veteran of Mountain Rose Herbs, having spent years creating the look and feel of the company as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Brand Officer. He brings innovative ideas and forward-moving vision to his new role. Together with Cameron, he is excited to expand upon Shawn’s vision for growing the sustainable and ethical company that the Mountain Rose Herbs community has relied upon since 1987.
“We all deserve fresh ideas and fresh leadership,” Shawn said. “Cameron and Thomas will provide just that, and I truly look forward to seeing the new era they will usher Mountain Rose Herbs into.”
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