Modern Meadow Taps Former Shinola and Michael Kors Executives to Drive Growth in 2018

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January 25, 2018

The biofabrication company announces new additions to executive and advisory teams to guide the company’s transition from R&D to commercial production.Nutley, NJ, Jan 24, 2018–Modern Meadow, the biofabrication company pioneering Zoa™ bioleather materials, today announces the hire of former Shinola executive Bridget Russo as Chief Marketing Officer and the appointment of former Michael Kors executive Anna Bakst to its Board of Directors. The news comes on the heels of the debut of Zoa,™ the bioleather materials brand that Modern Meadow introduced in October at the Museum of Modern Art.Modern Meadow added 40 new staff in 2017, bringing the head count to 72 full time employees. To accommodate continued growth, Modern Meadow also relocated company headquarters to the former Roche headquarters in Nutley, New Jersey and established a design and applied research studio at New Lab in Brooklyn.“Bridget and Anna bring decades of experience building brands that stand for sustainability, quality and innovation,” said CEO Andras Forgacs. “They are invaluable additions to the leadership of Modern Meadow and will be integral as we bring our bioleather materials to market over the coming years.”Bridget Russo joins Modern Meadow as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over 20 years of brand-building experience from Shinola and other social impact companies. At Shinola, Bridget helped grow the company from just a handful of employees when it opened its doors in 2012 to over 600 just five years later. Bridget was named one of the Adweek Brand Genius Class of 2016, bestowed upon 10 of marketing’s “most talented” that year.“Usually when we talk about innovation in fashion, what we are really talking about is new designs using traditional materials. I am thrilled to join Modern Meadow, a company that is offering designers an entirely new toolkit, unlocking new possibilities that we’ve never imagined before,” said Russo.Anna Bakst comes to Modern Meadow with over 25 years of experience managing and cultivating businesses for major American fashion houses. In December of 2016, after over 13 years at Michael Kors, Anna stepped down from her role as Group President of the Accessories and Footwear Division, which launched in 2003 and by 2016 drove more than $3 billion in revenue. Prior to Michael Kors, Anna spent 12 years at Donna Karan International, where she rose from Director of Licensing to President of Accessories and Footwear, achieving annual revenue in excess of $130 million.“For brands that are truly committed to innovation, sustainability and providing their customers with best-in-class products, Modern Meadow is an invaluable partner,” added Bakst. “I am honored to serve on the board of directors for a company that’s empowering designers to rethink the most fundamental parts of their creative process.”About Modern Meadow Inc.Modern Meadow is pioneering biologically advanced materials. The company harnesses the power of design, biology, and engineering to produce the world’s first bioleather materials, ZoaTM. Modern Meadow materials enable new design and performance possibilities and by partnering with some of the world’s most cherished and innovative consumer brands aims to bring new life to the material world.Their unique and diverse team numbers over 70 people with expertise in molecular biology, material science, engineering and design. Modern Meadow is proud to have the support of world class investors such as Horizons Ventures, Iconiq Capital, ARTIS Ventures, Temasek, Breakout Ventures and Tony Fadell. For more information, please visit www.modernmeadow.com or contact press@modernmeadow.com.

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