Powell, who has served as COO for the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) for the last eight years, will be responsible to lead new initiatives for NPA growth.
“This is the first of several major initiatives we are planning in order to expand membership and enrich the NPA value proposition,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, NPA’s CEO.
“With Devon on board, we look forward to further advancing NPA’s mission of securing quality natural products for all, while moving the industry onward and upward.”
In addition to being the COO of AHPA, Powell concurrently served as executive director of the International Aloe Science Council, a nonprofit trade association representing the aloe vera industry, for the past six years.
“I’m thrilled to be joining NPA at a time of growth for the industry,” he said, “especially as the association prepares to embark on fresh and compelling initiatives that will benefit all natural products industry stakeholders and consumers.
“I’m eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to NPA’s evolution, and am excited to be involved in enhancing the association’s role within the industry.”
Powell replaces the former Sr. VP of member services, Gabrielle Alahouzos, who recently left NPA to pursue other opportunities.
All change at the top
Powell is the second major new hire for NPA in the past several weeks, following the announcement that Dr Fabricant would return to the NPA from the FDA, where he was the director of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs since 2011.
NPA bills itself as the largest trade organization representing the entire breadth of the natural products industry, from suppliers and manufacturers through retailers. NPA is also the oldest organization representing the industry, with more than 2,000 members in all 50 states and internationally, accounting for over 10,000 retail, manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution locations of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.