John Purdy brings to ViSalus nearly 30 years of global leadership in executive roles with companies such as Herbalife and Amway.

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 16^th, 2010 – ViSalus Sciences has added a direct selling industry veteran to its executive management team with the hiring of John B. Purdy as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

Purdy most recently held a variety of leadership roles over a 13 year career at Herbalife, including Director of North American Operations, Senior Vice President of International Operations and Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific. He led Herbalife’s efforts in Japan, increasing sales of this leading market during a dramatic growth period from 1995-1999. As Senior Vice President of International Operations, he was responsible for the International Expansion Group which successfully opened markets in Europe and Asia.

In Purdy, ViSalus adds a seasoned executive who has risen through the ranks of two multi-billion-dollar companies. Purdy was instrumental in both maintaining the stability of mature markets as well as launching and growing new emerging markets.

Prior to his time with Herbalife, Purdy was with Amway Corporation for more than 15 years, holding various management positions as he rose to senior manager of Amway’s California operations center.

Purdy will work primarily from the company’s Beverly Hills office, where his focus will be enhancing the Customer and Distributor experience and improving operational efficiency in all aspects of the company.

“The ViSalus mission is to impact millions of people around the world through our Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge,” said ViSalus CEO Ryan Blair. “Adding John Purdy to the executive team is a monumental step in our global ambitions.”

The ViSalus Community will have its first opportunity to meet its new President and COO when Purdy is introduced at ViSalus Academy, the company’s national training event taking place March 12^th-14^th in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to valuable entrepreneurial education, ViSalus Academy will feature:

• The crowning of new Body by Vi Champions from over 997 contestants.
• The promotion of several Distributors to the company’s top earning position of Ambassador.
• Significant cash awards on stage as part of the company’s Rising Star Search promotion.
• The celebration of raising over 100,000 meal replacements for children in need through the Body by Vi Community Challenge, and the launch of a million meal challenge.“

“I am very excited about the ViSalus opportunity, and having met some of our leaders in the field already, I know that their passion for this company and our products is true of their teams as well,” said Purdy. “I can’t wait to experience the fun and excitement of a ViSalus national event first hand.

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About ViSalus Sciences

ViSalus Sciences, with headquarters in Troy, Michigan and Los Angeles, CA, is a leading Health Transformation Company utilizing the direct selling channel to distribute its Weight Management and Nutritional Supplement products. Backed by a partnership with NYSE traded Blyth, Inc., ViSalus is the company behind the Body by Vi Challenge, a 90-day health challenge that helps people achieve their weight loss and fitness goals for a chance to win over $100,000 per year in total prizes. Their Body by Vi Community Challenge is closing in on a goal set in November of 2009 to donate 100,000 meals to children in need.

ViSalus may be found on the Internet at www.visalus.com and www.bodybyvi.com

Originally Posted on Monday February 15, 2010 8:03 pm on Vi-Net Blog