Former Jamba Juice exec joins Project Juice as CEOFormer Jamba Juice exec joins Project Juice as CEO

Project Juice has named Susan Shields CEO. Photo: Project Juice

Project Juice has named Susan Shields as the chain’s first CEO, the company said Monday.

Shields was partner and co-founder of natural and organic brand consulting firm Pluot Consulting before joining the San Francisco-based Project Juice, which has about 10 locations in California. Prior to that, Shields was senior vice president, chief innovation officer and chief marketing officer for Jamba Juice. She also held executive positions with Beautifull Inc. and the Safeway grocery chain.

Project Juice co-founder Rachel Malsin said the chain spent months vetting candidates before selecting Shields, who has a personal passion for organic products and healthy living.

Shields will lead the senior executive team of founding members, including Rachel and husband Greg Malsin, Devon Briger, Marra St. Clair and Lori Kenyon Farley, the company said.

“Project Juice is a growing company with multiple founders. We are continuously faced with opportunities to explore and strategic decisions to be made. Collectively, we decided that hiring a CEO is an important decision to best set up Project Juice for success in 2016,” Rachel Malsin said in a statement.

Known for its cold-pressed juices and use of organic ingredients, Project Juice opened a test kitchen in San Francisco last year to set up the roll out of an expanded fresh food menu.

Last year, Project Juice merged with another juice company, Irvine, Calif.-based Ritual Wellness, to help build efficiencies of scale.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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