Flow Sciences Taps New CMO, Deepens RTP Roots for Aggressive Growth

LELAND, N.C. – April 14, 2026 – Flow Sciences, Inc., a long-standing leader in laboratory and pharmaceutical containment solutions, has announced a significant strategic move by appointing Kent Lupino as its first-ever Chief Marketing Officer. The creation of this new executive role, coupled with Lupino's placement at the company’s new office in the heart of North Carolina's Research Triangle Park (RTP), signals a clear and aggressive pivot towards accelerated growth and deeper market penetration.

Lupino, a veteran with over two decades of experience in highly technical life sciences marketing, will report directly to CEO Jonathan Mann. His mandate is comprehensive, covering all marketing, product management, and business development functions. This move is designed to build a more disciplined and powerful go-to-market engine for the company's extensive portfolio of containment enclosures, gloveboxes, and manufacturing services.

A Strategic Pivot for a New Era of Growth

The decision to establish a C-suite marketing position after more than 30 years in business is a telling indicator of Flow Sciences' ambitions. It reflects a strategic shift from a company built on engineering excellence and reputation to one actively seeking to scale its commercial operations and expand its global footprint. This initiative is not an isolated event; it follows the recent appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer, suggesting a broader reinforcement of the executive team to steer the company through its next phase of expansion.

For years, Flow Sciences has been a trusted name in specialized environments, pioneering technologies like Vented Balance Safety Enclosures (VBSE™) and leveraging advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to ensure safety and performance. With an estimated annual revenue between $9 million and $12 million, the company has carved out a strong position in a demanding niche. The creation of the CMO role suggests that leadership believes the time is right to leverage this strong foundation for more substantial market capture.

"Kent brings exactly the combination of technical fluency, commercial rigor and life sciences domain knowledge that this role requires," said CEO Jonathan Mann. He emphasized that Lupino's proven ability to build demand in complex B2B markets makes him "uniquely positioned to help Flow Sciences reach the next stage of growth." This appointment is about harnessing the company's established engineering prowess and translating it into a compelling, far-reaching brand story that resonates with a larger universe of potential customers.

The Specialized Marketer for a Technical Market

In the world of life sciences and advanced manufacturing, marketing is not merely about brand awareness; it is about communicating deep technical value to a highly educated and discerning audience. Kent Lupino's background makes him particularly suited for this challenge. His career includes leadership roles at companies deeply embedded in the life sciences and medical device sectors, providing him with an intimate understanding of the customer's world.

Most recently, Lupino served as senior director of marketing and sales operations at Tergus Pharma, a Durham-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that merged with MedPharm Ltd. in 2024. His experience at Tergus, along with previous leadership roles at BioMedomics, Inc., and SunTech Medical, has honed his ability to market complex, highly regulated products. His expertise is further solidified by a Master of International Business and a Pragmatic Marketing Certification, underscoring a disciplined, data-driven approach to product and brand strategy.

This specialized skill set is critical for a company like Flow Sciences, whose products are integral to safely handling hazardous materials in pharmaceutical research, semiconductor manufacturing, and chemical processing. The sales cycle is often long and requires building trust through technical credibility. Lupino’s task will be to structure and amplify this conversation, ensuring that the company's value proposition is clearly articulated to engineers, lab managers, and procurement specialists alike.

Deepening Roots in Biotech's Epicenter

The strategic importance of Lupino’s physical location cannot be overstated. By basing its new CMO in Research Triangle Park, Flow Sciences is embedding its commercial leadership directly into one of the world's most vibrant life sciences ecosystems. RTP is North America's largest research park, a sprawling hub of innovation that is home to over 385 companies, including industry giants like Biogen, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and GSK.

Flow Sciences' RTP office, which opened in 2025, is more than just a satellite location; it is a strategic asset. Featuring a product showroom, training facilities, and a consultative design center, the office is designed to foster collaboration and provide hands-on engagement for the dense concentration of pharmaceutical, biotech, and research organizations in the region. Placing the head of marketing in this environment provides an invaluable feedback loop and direct access to the very customers the company aims to serve more broadly.

This proximity allows the company to be more responsive to the evolving needs of the industry, participate directly in the region's innovation community, and build stronger relationships with key clients and partners. As the region continues to attract billions in investment and top-tier talent, Flow Sciences has positioned itself to be an integral part of the conversation and the supply chain.

Navigating an Evolving Containment Landscape

Lupino joins Flow Sciences at a time of significant technological advancement in the containment industry. Trends such as the integration of robotics and automation, the use of IoT for real-time environmental monitoring, and the development of advanced antimicrobial materials are reshaping customer expectations. Companies are no longer just buying a box; they are investing in integrated systems that enhance safety, ensure compliance, and improve workflow efficiency.

In this dynamic market, a robust marketing strategy is essential for differentiating a company's offerings. Lupino expressed his enthusiasm for this challenge, noting the company's "remarkable foundation—award-winning products, a rigorous engineering culture and customers across some of the most demanding applications in pharma and beyond." He sees a "tremendous opportunity to expand the company's market presence and connect those capabilities with the much larger universe of customers who need them."

His role will involve not only promoting existing products but also helping to shape the future product roadmap by channeling market intelligence back into the organization. By aligning the company's engineering strengths with a sophisticated, customer-centric marketing and business development strategy, Flow Sciences is making a calculated investment to secure its leadership position for years to come.