GMDC Hires Director of Wellness Programs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) said yesterday that Christopher M. DePetris will join its staff as the new Director of Wellness Programs. His responsibilities will include continuing to advance GMDC's leadership position in wellness in the general merchandise and health beauty wellness supplier, wholesale, and retailing industries.
DePetris comes to GMDC from Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (now part of Whole Foods) where he most recently served as director of the holistic health department, providing leadership and management of corporate and field merchandising, category management, procurement, and promotional programming.
At Wild Oats he also served as national category manager of dietary supplements for three years and, before that, as national buyer of dietary supplements. Before joining Wild Oats, DePetris gained experience in product marketing and promotions as marketing director for PhysioLogics, a division of NBTY, Inc.
"Chris brings a wealth of wellness retailing and industry experience to GMDC," said GMDC president/c.e.o. Dave McConnell in a statement. "His knowledge and vision for consumer-driven health-and-wellness retail solutions and extensive contacts within the retail and supplier communities that are driving innovation within the categories will be of tremendous value to the GMDC membership."
According to McConnell, DePetris will concentrate "on supporting the development of innovative programs, consumer, and business insights and wellness-focused education and training that will clearly demonstrate GMDC's commitment to being an industry leader in this exploding retail opportunity."
DePetris said he hoped "to grow and expand [GMDC's] efforts in capturing and understanding the tremendous opportunities within the wellness industry," particularly in the areas of educational programming and best practices.
GMDC is a worldwide trade association dedicated to serving general merchandise and health beauty wellness retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers.
DePetris comes to GMDC from Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (now part of Whole Foods) where he most recently served as director of the holistic health department, providing leadership and management of corporate and field merchandising, category management, procurement, and promotional programming.
At Wild Oats he also served as national category manager of dietary supplements for three years and, before that, as national buyer of dietary supplements. Before joining Wild Oats, DePetris gained experience in product marketing and promotions as marketing director for PhysioLogics, a division of NBTY, Inc.
"Chris brings a wealth of wellness retailing and industry experience to GMDC," said GMDC president/c.e.o. Dave McConnell in a statement. "His knowledge and vision for consumer-driven health-and-wellness retail solutions and extensive contacts within the retail and supplier communities that are driving innovation within the categories will be of tremendous value to the GMDC membership."
According to McConnell, DePetris will concentrate "on supporting the development of innovative programs, consumer, and business insights and wellness-focused education and training that will clearly demonstrate GMDC's commitment to being an industry leader in this exploding retail opportunity."
DePetris said he hoped "to grow and expand [GMDC's] efforts in capturing and understanding the tremendous opportunities within the wellness industry," particularly in the areas of educational programming and best practices.
GMDC is a worldwide trade association dedicated to serving general merchandise and health beauty wellness retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers.