Infinite Herbs' co-founder takes on advisory role, longtime employee promoted

Infinite Herbs & Specialties says co-founder Camilo Penalosa will step away from the company's daily operations and assume an advisory role Jan. 31. Philipp Harlov will be promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for the Miami-based company, assuming Penalosa's former customer responsibilities, according to a news release.

Penalosa launched Infinite Herbs more than 20 years ago with CEO Gregorio Berliavsky, the release said. From the beginning, Penalosa led the company's sales, marketing, and business development, with Berliavsky overseeing the administration functions.

Penalosa and Berliavsky grew a single, small distribution warehouse in Boston into an international farming and sales company with additional warehouses in Chicago, New Jersey and Miami, the release said. Infinite Herbs says it now owns and operates farms in the U.S., Mexico and South America and sells conventional and organic herbs and specialty vegetables to local and major retail and foodservice clients nationwide.

"Being Camilo's business partner for over two decades has been a great experience,” Berliavsky said in the release. “He has been an integral part of the company's success by building customer trust and developing successful new products and presentations to fill their needs. We wish Camilo the best in this new stage of his life, and we are pleased that he will continue in an advisory capacity."

Penalosa said it has been an honor and a pleasure to work at Infinite Herbs.

"I look forward to staying involved in the company as an advisor," Penalosa said in the release. 

Following Penalosa's repositioning within the company, Harlov will oversee the company's sales and marketing, business development and customer service functions, the release said. Harlov has held multiple positions at Infinite Herbs, most recently managing the company's customer service department and working alongside Penalosa on business development, sales and marketing, according to the release. 

Harlov began working at Infinite Herbs in 2005 as an intern; shortly after, he became a warehouse supervisor, overseeing dry goods inventories, purchasing and logistics, and assisting in the product quality department, the release said. In his new role, Harlov will report directly to Berliavsky, according to the company.

"During his 18 years at Infinite Herbs, Phil has shown a strong dedication to delivering excellent customer service," Berliavsky said. "I am confident that he will help Infinite Herbs continue to grow and be a successful company for many years to come."

"Phil has worked by my side in the sales and marketing department for nearly two decades. He built our customer service team from the ground up," Penalosa said. "He understands our customers' needs and genuinely cares about relationship-building. I can't think of anyone else I'd want to assume this position."