SEATTLE (AP) — Jones Soda Co. has named Joth Ricci its chief operating officer.
Ricci, 39, is currently general manager of Columbia Distributing Company, a beverage distributor based in Portland, Ore. He'll join Jones Soda on Monday.
Peter van Stolk, the founder and chief executive of the quirky soda maker, recently stepped down. The company did not say why he left, but his departure came after a three consecutive quarters of disappointing financial results.
Jones also has been hit by several shareholder lawsuits claiming executives and board members pushed up the share price, then sold stock before poor first- and second-quarter earnings reports caused the price to plunge. The company has denied the claims.
