Sheldon Baker05.14.10
Kenn Israel, Vice President of Marketing, Robinson Pharma, Santa Ana, CA
Kenn Israel is vice president of marketing for Robinson Pharma Inc. and sits on the dietary supplement committee of the Natural Products Association. He also represents Robinson Pharma Inc. to the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Kenn has built his career around a passion for the ethical and responsible use and manufacture of nutritional and botanical products and their role in supporting healthier lifestyles and wellness. In the natural products industry for over two decades, he has held senior marketing, product development and leadership roles with Soft Gel Technologies Inc., Country Life Vitamins, and Vitamins.com. Kenn is married, active in his synagogue, and enjoys cycling, wine and travel.
Kenn Israel is vice president of marketing for Robinson Pharma Inc. and sits on the dietary supplement committee of the Natural Products Association. He also represents Robinson Pharma Inc. to the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Kenn has built his career around a passion for the ethical and responsible use and manufacture of nutritional and botanical products and their role in supporting healthier lifestyles and wellness. In the natural products industry for over two decades, he has held senior marketing, product development and leadership roles with Soft Gel Technologies Inc., Country Life Vitamins, and Vitamins.com. Kenn is married, active in his synagogue, and enjoys cycling, wine and travel.
I met with Kenn at a recent industry trade show and asked him a few questions...
Health E-Insights: What is the best product/ingredient you’ve ever encountered?
Mr. Israel: There are so many really great ingredients and products so this is a tough one to answer. I feel a responsibility to select an ingredient that could have the most possible benefit for the most people, is supported by solid science and is sustainable and ethical. This guides me to EPA and DHA from sustainable sources—either pelagic fish, yeast, or algae. Runners up would be Pycnogenol, chromium and vitamin D.
Health E-Insights: Many people carry a title of sales and marketing. Aren’t these two different jobs?
Mr. Israel: Funny you should make this comment. It has been a major theme in my career for the past decade. These are two very separate disciplines that require not only different skill sets but, I will argue, different personality types. Ultimately both sales and marketing are, in the best circumstances, working toward the same goal, but how we accomplish this is very different. If I had to boil it down, marketing aspires to what is plausible and sales achieves the possible.
Health E-Insights: What was the defining moment in your career?
Mr. Israel: I like to think it has not happened yet (the best is yet to come) but there have been some interesting times, a few crises, and fewer triumphs. I did a major presentation for a full room at a trade show as a stand-in when a consultant presenter bailed out at the last minute. The presentation went really well because I was genuinely interested in the topic and had learned as much as I could prior to the event just so I could ask a few questions and learn from the “expert.” There is no substitute for passion and preparation.
E-Insights: Do you work while you’re on vacation?
Mr. Israel: I recently returned from vacation. For the first few days I was still working, but ultimately I was able to not return phone calls or read every email on the Blackberry. I know that coming back is always difficult and I hate a crisis. It is really is good to relax and disengage.
E-Insights: If you could speak any foreign language, what would it be?
Mr. Israel: I married a wonderful woman from Russia and after almost 10 years together I have no skill or faculty with that language. I would like to learn this just to know more of her soul. But my passion is for all things Italian…wine, cycling, food, art, architecture and living well.
For more information and interview consideration, contact Sheldon Baker at sbaker@bakerdillon.com or visit his website at www.bakerdillon.com.
Health E-Insights: What is the best product/ingredient you’ve ever encountered?
Mr. Israel: There are so many really great ingredients and products so this is a tough one to answer. I feel a responsibility to select an ingredient that could have the most possible benefit for the most people, is supported by solid science and is sustainable and ethical. This guides me to EPA and DHA from sustainable sources—either pelagic fish, yeast, or algae. Runners up would be Pycnogenol, chromium and vitamin D.
Health E-Insights: Many people carry a title of sales and marketing. Aren’t these two different jobs?
Mr. Israel: Funny you should make this comment. It has been a major theme in my career for the past decade. These are two very separate disciplines that require not only different skill sets but, I will argue, different personality types. Ultimately both sales and marketing are, in the best circumstances, working toward the same goal, but how we accomplish this is very different. If I had to boil it down, marketing aspires to what is plausible and sales achieves the possible.
Health E-Insights: What was the defining moment in your career?
Mr. Israel: I like to think it has not happened yet (the best is yet to come) but there have been some interesting times, a few crises, and fewer triumphs. I did a major presentation for a full room at a trade show as a stand-in when a consultant presenter bailed out at the last minute. The presentation went really well because I was genuinely interested in the topic and had learned as much as I could prior to the event just so I could ask a few questions and learn from the “expert.” There is no substitute for passion and preparation.
E-Insights: Do you work while you’re on vacation?
Mr. Israel: I recently returned from vacation. For the first few days I was still working, but ultimately I was able to not return phone calls or read every email on the Blackberry. I know that coming back is always difficult and I hate a crisis. It is really is good to relax and disengage.
E-Insights: If you could speak any foreign language, what would it be?
Mr. Israel: I married a wonderful woman from Russia and after almost 10 years together I have no skill or faculty with that language. I would like to learn this just to know more of her soul. But my passion is for all things Italian…wine, cycling, food, art, architecture and living well.
For more information and interview consideration, contact Sheldon Baker at sbaker@bakerdillon.com or visit his website at www.bakerdillon.com.
