VR Labs adds another executive

BONITA SPRINGS -- VR Laboratories LLC named John Saltamartine its chief operating officer this week.

During the nine months prior to joining VR, Saltamartine worked as plant manager for NBTY Manufacturing & Distribution Florida Inc., leading its manufacturing and distribution operations. Prior to that, Saltamartine worked as an executive vice president with Naples-based Vitarich Labs, which closed its vitamin manufacturing plant about a year ago.

VR Labs has grown its executive leadership team by three over the past several weeks, adding CEO Jeff Kottkamp in October, and naming James Rothman as its chief scientific adviser last week. The young company is working to formulate and produce FDA-approved botanical pharmaceuticals and consumer products.

In February, Lee County commissioners approved $5 million in financial incentives to attract the firm to its current headquarters at the Beachway Office Complex. At that time, VR Laboratories said it would create 208 new jobs over the next five years, paying an average annual wage of $66,850.