As the industry continues to evolve, its players aren’t staying put—this month, several publications are ushering in changes at the top, while the new president of the NCARB sets his sights on equity and inclusion. Read on for Business of Home’s monthly roundup of arrivals and departures in design, manufacturing, media and more.

Media & PR

Here at Business of Home, we’re excited to welcome Caroline Biggs as our new market editor. The Domino and Lonny alum’s writing has most recently appeared in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, Refinery29, Martha Stewart Living, Wirecutter and more. At BOH, Biggs will be developing and launching a new editorial vertical dedicated to to-the-trade product.

We’re also welcoming Kaitlin Menza, who joins BOH this summer as a contributing executive editor. Menza is a contributing editor at House Beautiful, and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, Esquire, Marie Claire, Time, New York, Cosmopolitan and more.

The New York Times has named Stella Bugbee as its new Styles editor, taking over the role from Choire Sicha, who stepped down in April to join the publication’s newsletter department as a senior editor. Bugbee most recently served as an editor at large for New York magazine, and previously led The Cut as editor in chief from 2013 to 2020, transforming the site’s digital presence and increasing coverage of politics, gender and social issues.

Mitch Owens has left his role as decorative arts editor at Architectural Digest. Moving forward, Owens will work as a freelance writer, editor and design consultant, and will continue to co-host style-related cultural tours internationally with the members-only luxury travel company Indagare.

Kelly Phillips Badal has joined Luxe Interiors + Design as a managing editor. In the new position, she will assume coverage of Southern California, along with the Pacific Northwest, Texas and Southeast regions, producing the publication’s “Scene” section on local news and happenings. In the past, Badal has served as editor in chief of Interiors California magazine, executive editor of Angeleno magazine and senior editor at Airbnb’s Luxury Retreats, among other editorial roles.

The Architect’s Newspaper had tapped Aaron Seward to be its next editor in chief. Seward most recently served as editor of Texas Architect since 2015, and previously held several positions at AN, including executive editor. In the new role, he follows the late William Menking, who founded the publication alongside its president and publisher, Diana Darling.

At Architect, the journal of the American Institute of Architects, Paul Makovsky has been appointed editor in chief, replacing Katie Gerfen. Along with working as a consultant for product development and strategic content for various architectural firms and product manufacturers, Makovsky’s background includes two years as editor in chief of Contract magazine, as well as 18 years at Metropolis, including as vice president of design, editor and brand director.

Michaela Williams has departed Marie Flanigan Interiors to join The Dove Agency as public relations director working with interior design clients across the country. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Williams has worked in public relations for more than 10 years, including past positions at the Dallas Market Center and Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations.

Emily Cones-Browne has joined the team at Bjarke Ingels Group as global public relations officer, departing her role as associate communications director for UpSpring PR. Cones-Browne’s background includes previous roles with Clodagh Design and several Australian publications, such as Art Edit and Luxury Travel Magazine.

Dina Rosenberg is now senior public relations manager at Herman Miller, departing her previous role as associate vice president of HL Group. Rosenberg brings more than a decade of related experience, with firms such as J. Wade Public Reltations, BWR Public Relations and Harrison & Shriftman.

Design & Architecture

The Cincinnati-based architecture, design and strategy firm Nelson Worldwide has appointed Philip Otto as director of retail. Otto brings experience as a creative director for museums, retailers and developers, which has allowed him to work alongside brands such as Anthropologie, Coca-Cola International and Nike. Additionally, he currently also serves as an educator at the University of Cincinnati, leading courses on design trends and issues at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Washington, D.C.-based architecture and design firm //3877 has welcomed Bryan Wingold as director of Black + Green ops. Wingold has more than 26 years of industry experience, having previously worked with Apple Hospitality REIT, Baskervill, and Gresham, Smith and Partners.

Architecture, design and planning firm HLW welcomes architect and principal Sejal Sonani as managing director of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Sonani first joined HLW in 2012, and has since led the studio’s adaptive reuse, repositioning, master planning and ground-up construction services, along with overseeing more than 1.5 million square feet of office projects along the West Coast.

To The Trade

At Dallas Market Center, Patty Price has stepped into the role of vice president of leasing for the lighting industry. The industry veteran formerly served as executive vice president of Arteriors Home from 2010 to 2018, and was most recently vice president of sales at Global Views and Studio A|Home.

Shaw Industries Group has named Shannon Cochran as the new brand leader of the Patcraft, a commercial brand at Shaw Industries. Cochran brings with her five years of previous experience with Patcraft in the role of vice president of creative and design.

Jared Braverman is the new marketing director for the D&D Building in New York—stepping into a role formerly held by Liz Nightingale, and building on more than 10 years of experience in digital marketing.

Oliver Deadman is the newest head of design at Clive Christian Furniture. A graduate of the University of Salford, Deadman first joined the company as a graphic designer in 2009, when he trained under founding design director David Dunkley and assisted in digitizing the company’s product catalog.

Retail & Manufacturing

Jason Edelman has joined the leadership team at Williams-Sonoma as senior vice president of the company’s home brand. Edelman most recently served as senior vice president of merchandising for the furniture division of Restoration Hardware, and returns to Williams-Sonoma with 20 years of industry experience after beginning his career with the brand on its merchandising team.

Online home improvement services platform Angi (formerly known as Angie’s List) has announced the appointment of Jeff Pedersen as chief financial officer. Pedersen’s technology finance background spans nearly 25 years, with leadership roles at Amazon, Dell and IBM, as well as house cleaning and handyman startup Handy.

At furniture rental services provider Cort, Joseph “J.T.” Marcum has been promoted to corporate vice president. Marcum started with the company in 2019 as vice president of business strategy, and throughout his career has gained experience in transportation, third-party logistics and supply chain management.

Purple Innovation, which produces a range of mattresses, pillows and bedding, has announced Patrice Varni as chief marketing and digital officer at its Lehi, Utah, headquarters. Varni brings more than 25 years of digital and brand marketing experience, most recently serving as chief marketing officer and president of Dermstore, an online retail site for skincare products.

Karen Mooney has stepped into the role of president at Atlanta-based home retail brand Ballard Designs, following a previous position as senior vice president of brand and host of the How to Decorate podcast. Mooney will take the helm as outgoing president Ryan McKelvey departs for a leadership role at Cornerstone Brands, Ballard’s parent company.

Industry Organizations

Texas architect Alfred Vidaurri Jr. has been inaugurated as the 2021-2022 president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards—the first Latino president in the organization’s 102-year history. During his term, Vidaurri plans to focus on how the process of earning an architecture license must evolve to meet future needs, and how NCARB can support better equity, diversity and inclusion in the process.

The New School has appointed David J. Lewis as Dean of the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons to oversee undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture, industrial design, product design, interior design and lighting design. Lewis’s teaching history at Parsons spans nearly 20 years, including positions as director of the master of architecture program, director of design workshop and interim dean. Lewis is also the founding principal of LTL Architects, a New York–based design intensive architecture firm.

Homepage image: Caroline Selfors | Courtesy of Unsplash