The design industry is ever-evolving with new and changing faces in manufacturing and retail, marketing and publishing, interior design and architecture, industry organizations and museums and galleries. Editor at Large is keeping tabs on who’s coming and going in this monthly column.
Marketing/Media
Suzanne Noli has been hired as the new Design Director for Veranda. She was previously a contributing Design Director to the magazine.
Luxe Interiors + Design’s West Coast Publisher Jo Campbell Fujii is no longer with the company. In the meantime, the California region is being handled by Lisa Lovely, Publisher of Luxe San Francisco; Brooke Randolph, Associate Publisher of Luxe Los Angeles; and Shannon Ratcliffe, Publisher of Luxe Southern California.
After four years as Marketing Director of Cottages & Gardens publications, Heather Alexander has left her post and has begun working with another company.
Kathy Mitchell has just started as Publisher at Luxe Chicago. She recently held the position of group publisher for MVP, the parent company to Where and Skirt magazines. In addition, Michelle Blair, National Luxury Goods Director for Luxe, has been promoted to Associate Publisher of National Accounts for the brand.
Robert Contini, Vice President of Marketing for the Cohen Design Centers (DDB, PDC, DCOTA and DCH), will be leaving his post after eight years with the company. His last day will be July 31.
Stacy McLaughlin and Stuart Cohen, former Public Relations Director and Public Relations Consultant respectivley at 1stdibs, have been suceeded by Laura Schneider, the new Head of Public Relations, and Emilia Vincent, the new Head of Events. McLaughlin will be focusing full-time on her PR firm working on a project with Michael Bruno.
Anna Meacham has left her position at the public relations firm Susan Becher & Associates. She will be taking on the job of PR Director at J. McLaughlin, a sportswear company.
Manufacturing/Retail
Susan North, Managing Director of New Business Initiatives at Thibaut, will be heading to Scalamandré to be the Creative Director. Stay tuned for more details.
Patricia Spado has left George Smith and returned to Dakota Jackson, where she worked previously. George Smith’s CEO Ben Norris has relocated from London to New York to spearhead the global business.
Rio Hamilton, who was most recently the Showroom Manager of Niedermaier in the D&D Building, has taken on the job of Senior Designer at Assouline Home.
ALT for Living has hired Becca Thomas as Marketing Coordinator. Thomas previously worked as Junior Interior Designer at Marty Mason Collected Home in Atlanta.
OLY STUDIO has appointed Frank Leyon as Global Director of Sales and Business Development. Leyon has over 15 years of experience in the home furnishings industry and was previously Vice President of Sales at Ebanista and National Sales Manager U.S. and U.K. at Baker Furniture.
Marcello Lucchetta has joined Promemoria as VP of the Americas after an almost seven year long experience with Molteni&C—Dada in New York City.
HSN, Inc. has promoted Bill Brand to President. Brand will retain his role as Chief Marketing Officer and will continue to report directly to HSN CEO Mindy Grossman. Brand is also an Executive Officer of the company.
The Natuzzi Group has hired Ezio Cristetti as Chief Human Resources, IT and Organization Officer. He previously worked for Kimberly-Clark and Gruppo Heineken Italia. In addition, Claudio Ildebrando Aldrovandi has been named Corporate Quality and After Sales Director. He previously worked as a Quality Manager at companies including Zoppas, Lamborghini and Fagor Brand.
Marianne Goebl has been appointed Artek’s new Managing Director. Goebl was most recently Director of Design Miami/ and Design Miami/ Basel.
Adriana Hoyos has hired Melissa Roman as National Distribution Manager of its U.S. corporate team. Most recently Roman was the National Sales Manager at Taracea, a furniture manufacturer based in Mexico.
Theodore Alexander has appointed Thor Taber to the newly created position of Vice President of North American design. Taber comes to Theodore Alexander from Hickory Chair, where he served as Senior Furniture Designer since 2008.
Kimball Office has announced several enhancements to key leadership positions in the West. Holly Rau-Bhattacharya has accepted the role of the Area Market Manager for the Los Angeles-Orange County and Inland Empire team; Donny Cislo will be the new Area Market Manager in the San Diego, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada Region; and Vikki Gibbs, the Mountain Central Region Manager, will expand her Region to include the Minnesota team.
Online home furnishings retailer Hayneedle.com has promoted Rebecca Gray, Ryan Paulson and Tammy VanDonk to new leadership roles. Gray was named Vice President of Merchandising, overseeing all product offerings, category development, assortment expansion and vendor relationships; Paulson was promoted to Vice President of Technology, with responsibility for Hayneedle's retail and e-commerce systems, IT infrastructure, program management, quality assurance and IT security; and VanDonk was promoted to Vice President of Customer Care and Advocacy.
Interior Designers/Architects
Architect David Rogers has joined P+R Architects as Design Principal, focusing on retail, commercial and mixed-use typologies. His career spans 40 years and is concentrated in the revitalization of city centers globally.
New hires and promotions at Perkins+Will include Rachel Casanova, Principal, Director of Workplace; Julio Colon, Senior Associate, Technical Coordinator; Breeze Glazer, Senior Associate, Sustainability Leader; Sarah Freidel, Associate, Campus Planning + Strategies; MingMing Ong, Associate, Project Designer; and Daniel Windsor, Associate, Senior Urban Designer + Planner.
FXFOWLE Architects has added a Senior Associate, Jason Abbey, and a Director of Business Development, Cherrie Chalifoux, to its Washington, DC office. Abbey rejoins the firm as Senior Associate, relocating from New York, and will now direct architectural design and planning efforts in DC. Chalifoux is a specialist in marketing professional services for the A/E industry. Over a span of 25 years she has worked with design firms in Princeton, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.
Teknion Corporation has appointed Jennifer Busch to the position of Vice President, Architecture & Design. Busch has more than 25 years of experience in the interiors industry, including 21 years at industry design publication Contract Magazine, where she held the position of Editor in Chief, and most recently, at a major modular carpet manufacturer.
Industry organizations
The International Interior Design Association New York Chapter (IIDA NY) has appointed Rebecca Dorris Steiger as Chapter President. Steiger, a Senior Interior Designer and Associate at Gensler, is succeeding Steven South.
Dallas Market Center has promoted Eva Walsh to Executive Vice President of Marketing. In her position, Walsh is responsible for overseeing corporate services, creative services and corporate communications, while continuing to lead retail relations and business development. Walsh has been with Dallas Market Center for a total of nine years.
Museums/Galleries
Martino Stierli, a Swiss art history professor, has been appointed Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art.
Comings and goings we missed? Drop us a line at ssnowden@editoratlarge.com and let us know!
