DIRK KETTLEWELL PPE C-SUITE EXECUTIVE
In October of 2021, Dirk Kettlewell joined the PPE ranks by signing on with Rhino Health USA, Inc. This was a challenging time in the PPE channel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the related raw material shortages and significant supply change interruptions. Rhino Health USA’s Co-Founder, Majority Shareholder, CEO, President and Secretary Mark Lee had been a true visionary by working with the Navajo Nation in opening the first Nitrile glove factory in the U.S. just prior to the pandemic. However, Rhino Health’s first factory in Church Rock, New Mexico (by itself) could not meet the Nitrile glove needs of the entire U.S. PPE market. Therefore, after a thorough and fast-paced search, Mr. Lee made the strategic decision to open a second Nitrile gloves factory in Fort Worth, Texas.
In order to guarantee a long-term sales commitment for this new factory (after the pandemic), Mark Lee and Dirk Kettlewell successfully negotiated a multiyear $175.0 million contract with a Fortune 100 company. As part of this deal, Lee arranged for this same Fortune 100 company to also take a minority equity stake in Rhino Health, USA. Furthermore, this corporation agreed to work with Rhino in providing an “Eight Figure” line of credit.
In June of 2023, after signing a Term Sheet with a Fort Worth Investment Company, Mr. Lee laid-off all staff, including Mr. Kettlewell.