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Sparkling Ice marketing exec Russell Schleiden joins KT Tape as CMO

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By Minda Smiley, Reporter

January 6, 2016 | 2 min read

Sports medicine company KT Tape has hired Russell Schleiden as chief marketing officer.

Schleiden most recently served as vice president of marketing at Talking Rain, the parent company of Sparkling Ice water, lemonade and tea. Throughout his career, he has held top marketing roles at Hostess Brands and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

In his new role, he will be tasked with developing and driving the eight-year-old brand’s marketing strategy while growing sales nationally and abroad. Schleiden will also manage KT Tape’s brand partnerships with professional volleyball player Kerri Walsh-Jennings and NBA player James Harden in addition to overseeing a rollout of new products this year.

According to LinkedIn, co-founder of Utah-based KT Tape Jim Jenson previously served as chief marketing officer for the company.

Of his position, Schleiden said: “As an athlete, I have always been familiar and interested in KT Tape. I am very excited to join such a growing and fast-paced organization that is already the kinesiology tape category leader. With my 25 years of brand marketing experience, I look forward to working hand in hand with CEO Greg Venner in providing our customers with the best kinesiology tape on the market and have athletes of all types, from weekend warriors to professional athletes making KT Tape a part of their everyday training routine.”

During his four years at Talking Rain, Schleiden helped grow sales of the beverage brand from $80m to $500m, according to KT Tape.

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