Alex co-founded and serves as chief executive officer of Thrive Natural Care. Thrive designs and sells high performance skincare, powered by regenerative plants. Since 2013, Thrive’s team of American and Costa Rican entrepreneurs, farmers and scientists have produced new-to-market botanicals for the company’s products by means of an inspiring regenerative farming model that
helps restore degraded ecosystems and communities. Thrive’s vision and 500% growth over the past year has attracted retail partners such as Whole Foods and Amazon, national media such as Travel+Leisure and Esquire, and investors from Clorox, Nestlé, Unilever, venture capital and the NBA.
Prior to Thrive, Alex was the founding Director of Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship at Nestlé Waters North America, the $4B division of the world’s largest consumer water company. At Nestlé Waters, Alex developed the vision and strategic plan, and provided hands-on leadership to build the corporation’s first sustainability program from the ground up during a time of intense social scrutiny. He created a broad network of partnerships with corporate, policy, regulatory, and nonprofit water organizations to advance sustainability & innovation. His success in aligning financial, environmental, and social strategies within the 8,500-person corporation played a key role in expanding Nestlé Waters’ reputation for excellence in the consumer package goods industry.
Prior to Nestlé, Alex was Director of Philanthropy at The Nature Conservancy, where he helped raise a record $75MM in private capital for two of the largest watershed conservation projects in the organization’s history. Alex developed the vision, strategic plan and provided leadership for the 9-
person fundraising team that increased annual giving revenue 1,250% over four years and completed the most successful corporate conservation campaign in state history.
Alex’s other environmental contributions include co-development of an ecotourism business/funding model for Gabon’s president and Wildlife Conservation Society, creation of a five-year business plan for Big Bend National Park, and publication of a field guide to birds.
Alex has served as a Board Director for Clearwater Systems Inc., and as a judge or mentor for Cleantech Group’s Global 100, The Global Social Venture Competition, Global Cleantech Cluster Association, and Net Impact.
Alex earned his B.A. with academic honors at Duke University, and a master’s degree in environmental management from Yale University.