NEW YORK — Lone Thomsen has been named global chief marketing officer at The Meatless Farm Co., and Mark Cook has been named vice-president of sales, North America. The two new hires will focus on the plant-based meat company’s continued international expansion, with an emphasis on its foray into the North American market.

The executive appointments follow Meatless Farm’s launch into more than 450 Whole Foods Markets in the United States in August. The U.K.-based company also recently established its U.S. headquarters in New York City, with plans to open production and distribution facilities in the United States next year.

Ms. Thomsen joins Meatless Farm from the Coca-Cola Co., where she was head of media and communications. There, she launched several emerging products, including Coca-Cola Energy, Fuze, Honest Tea and Coca-Cola Signature Mixers to the Western European market. She has been a partner and strategic adviser for Meatless Farm since 2017.  

Mr. Cook is Meatless Farm’s second hire in North America. Previously, he was vice-president of sales for National Sales Associates, a national broker for natural, organic and specialty products. He will work with Kasper Vesth, general manager for North America at Meatless Farms, to drive market share in the plant-based protein market, which is expected to reach $5 billion next year.

“It’s a pivotal time for Meatless Farm in North America,” Mr. Vesth said. “Not only is there a growing consumer appetite for and awareness of plant-based meat alternatives; our launch with Whole Foods Markets in the U.S. has created demand from the retail and restaurant trade as well. We’re looking forward to building on the current momentum with Lone and Mark at the forefront.”