This week, we’re celebrating the excellence within our team and our client roster as the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards nominations are released. These awards honor the best of the best across sexual wellness industry roles, focusing on business acumen, leadership, and community standing. It’s with great pride that we recognize the impressive roster of nominations for our clients, collaborators, and agency leadership at the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards. Our industry is all about innovation, resilience, and creativity in the face of adversity, and these professionals continue to stand out in those areas and make a strong impact, time and time again.
Don’t forget to vote for them at xbiz.net, and if you don’t have an account, sign up now!
Our nominated stars
Here are the standout contributors who were recognized this year:
Kathryn Byberg, Little Leaf Agency – nominated for Marketing Exec of the Year
Our founder and CEO, Kathryn Byberg’s leadership in crafting strategic communications and PR for high-profile clients in the sexual wellness and adult industry showcases the power of narrative-driven campaigns, reputation, and hard work. With over a decade of experience under her belt working with iconic brands, she continues to inspire us daily, and was also nominated last year for this accolade.
Alicia Sinclair, COTR – nominated for Businessperson of the Year
Alicia’s entrepreneurial vision and ability to generate meaningful growth in an evolving marketplace with her award-winning brands Cowgirl, b-Vibe, and Le Wand make her a star in the retail sector. Plus, her unique background as a certified sex educator and work with the Department of Justice exhibit her dedication to making pleasure safer and more accessible for all.
Kim Faubel, COTR – nominated for Business Development Exec of the Year
As the Sales Director of COTR, Inc., Kim has driven new partnerships in a crowded marketplace, a role that requires strategic foresight and meticulous execution. A longtime industry professional with years in retail management, she’s known for her deep knowledge and ability to connect with consumers and educators alike, expanding COTR’s global footprint.
Simon Smith, Kiiroo – nominated for Team Manager of the Year
In 2024, Simon joined the innovative Kiiroo team. With over twenty years of key positions in multiple successful companies, he works closely with Kiiroo’s B2B marketing and sales team and the executive team, ensuring that the sex tech brands continue to grow and flourish in the increasingly competitive sexual wellness industry.
Kate Kozlova, Kiiroo – nominated for Brand Ambassador of the Year
Kate Kozlova, also known as the sex educator InBedWithKate, has a wealth of experience across different countries, and previously won the 2022 XBIZ Awards ‘Community Figure of the Year’ award. She has previously worked with brands like SVAKOM and is key to providing informative sex ed to consumers while elevating the Kiiroo team.
John Marinello, pjur – nominated for Team Manager of the Year
As pjur’s senior territory manager, John’s role shows how essential operational excellence and team cohesion are. He has extensive experience in business development and retailer relationships, and his leadership and mentorship have been instrumental in keeping pjur’s teams aligned across various markets.
Alexander Giebel, pjur – nominated for Businessperson of the Year
As the CEO and founder of pjur, Alexander has spent over three decades pioneering premium lubricants, guiding the company from a small German start-up to a globally recognized brand distributed in over 70 countries. Under his leadership, the brand continues to flourish and expand, evolving with changing customers and nurturing partnerships in the worlds of pleasure, medical, and retail sectors, as well as with media members, as indicated by the brand’s recent VIP press trip in Amsterdam.
Don’t forget to vote now
To Kathryn, Alicia, Kim, Simon, Kate, John, and Alexander: Congratulations on these 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominations; your vision and leadership help set an industry standard and inspire us to keep on building brands, telling stories, and raising awareness, elevating the sexual wellness world day by day.
Don’t forget to secure their wins by voting for the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominations online at xbiz.net!
