This spring, the design industry is abuzz with fresh hires, new team structures and leadership changes. Read on for Business of Home’s monthly roundup of arrivals and departures in design, manufacturing, media and more.
To the Trade
Kravet welcomed Suzanne Cohen as chief marketing officer. She brings two decades of experience in the hospitality sector, previously serving as a vice president of marketing at Starwood Hotels and then Marriott International, leading brand strategies for luxury hotels including the St. Regis and The Ritz-Carlton, and most recently as the CMO for The Ironman Group. In her new role, Cohen will lead Kravet’s marketing team in brand strategy, digital performance, customer engagement and licensing initiatives.
Custom carpet brand Patterson Flynn—owned by F. Schumacher & Co.—announced Peter Touma as president. Touma comes to Patterson Flynn from management consulting company Bain & Company, where he worked primarily with clients in the consumer product and retail sectors in New York. In his new role, Touma will be partnering with Patterson Flynn’s creative director Pamela Marshall to focus on company growth.
Furniture manufacturer Artisant Lane, formerly called American Leather Holdings, announced Dan Campbell as executive vice president of business development and president of BenchMade Modern, a branch of the company. Campbell brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his new role, most recently serving as the vice president of sales and business development for Holly Hunt, a division of MillerKnoll. Prior to joining Holly Hunt in 2005, Campbell was managing director of Swiss textile mill Création Baumann.
Hardware company Belwith Keeler announced promotions and new hires to its expanding creative team. After eight years at the company, Knikki Grantham has been promoted to creative director to guide the design team in expanding product lines. David Warmenhoven, who has been designing legacy products with the company since 2006, is now director of product innovation. Nick Clark has joined the team as marketing manager, bringing eight years of experience in the home improvement space, most recently as marketing manager for retail channel and digital at Novo Building Products. Belwith Keeler has also welcomed new e-commerce manager Jon Reibel, who brings over 15 years of experience growing and managing e-commerce startups and Fortune 500 brands including Home Depot, Lowe’s and Wayfair, and who will be responsible for formulating the company’s online retail strategy and customer experience.
New Jersey–based tile and stone producer Artistic Tile appointed Robert Rivera as vice president of slab operations, a newly created position designed to oversee the growing division. With more than 20 years of experience in operations, management, sales and logistics in the natural stone industry, Rivera most recently managed the slab department at Walker Zanger in Port Chester, New York. In his new role, Rivera will lead the sales and warehouse staff, enforcing safety protocols and overseeing team training.
Furniture and lighting manufacturer Iatesta Studio welcomed Sarah Gately as U.S. director of sales and showrooms. Gately has more than 30 years of industry experience and 23 years in managing multiline showrooms, previously working in retail with Crate & Barrel and then transitioning to trade jobs with showroom sales and management roles at Chicago’s design center The Mart and most recently at John Rosselli & Associates.
Flooring supplier Summit International Flooring celebrated its 20th anniversary with new promotions. Long-term flooring veteran Marc Becker has been with the company for 11 years and was promoted to vice president of sales, having most recently served as national sales director. Rick Taylor was named hospitality and residential market manager, bringing years of experience in high-end residential hospitality furniture and architectural products at companies such as Treo Textiles International and Modern Design Ventures. Newly appointed creative director Melissa McLaughlin brings 11 years of creative marketing experience, seven years in social media management and 15 years of customer service to her new position, in which she will manage Summit’s social media, advertising, marketing, design materials and new website. Jennifer Powers, who has a background in interior design and outside flooring sales, was hired as an architectural and design representative, and Thauane Danza was promoted to senior manager of supply chain logistics.
Home furnishings brand John-Richard named industry veteran Scott Smith as its chief merchandising officer and promoted Andrea Kimbrell to chief operating officer, a new position at the company. Smith held various leadership roles with major home furnishings companies, including Vanguard Furniture, Caracole, Legacy Classic, Drexel Heritage and Lexington Home Brands, and he most recently served as the president of Samuel Lawrence Furniture. In his new role, Smith will lead the merchandising and marketing divisions, overseeing product design, brand development, marketing and sales. Kimbrell’s experience is in outdoor consumer products and public accounting, having joined John-Richard in 2019 and most recently serving as the vice president of finance and administration. Kimbrell will now be handling day-to-day manufacturing operations, adding to her responsibilities overseeing finance, information technology, customer service and human resources.
Commercial flooring company Matter Surfaces appointed Rachel Pettit to vice president of brand development and Christine Gorman to director of brand and collection marketing. Previously the vice president of sales for the company’s Parador Modular One line, Pettit will expand her role to oversee marketing strategy for Matter Surfaces’s other brands, including Bolon and Purline. Gorman transitions to her new role after serving as the director of marketing and will help expand categories, grow revenue and oversee marketing strategy.
Design & Architecture
Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Nelson Worldwide appointed Jeff Cumpson to director of sales marketing, Adam Zingrone as mixed-use studio leader and Tyler Rice as director of environmental graphic design. Cumpson brings more than 10 years of marketing experience to his directorship, most recently serving as the marketing manager of strategy at Nelson. In his new role, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of the sales marketing group and support departmental and organizational projects. Zingrone has more than 15 years of experience in health care, civic and mixed-use projects, having built his portfolio at architecture companies including CallisonRTKL, Anderson Mikos Architects and, most recently, Path Construction. Zingrone will now lead the multifamily and mixed-use studio in the Chicago office, overseeing business development throughout the Midwest market. Rice brings more than 10 years of industry experience to his new position, including as a designer for a creative agency that produced environmental graphics for major sporting events and facilities across the U.S., and will continue to provide creative guidance on the firm’s projects.
Multidisciplinary Washington, D.C.–based design firm //3877 hired interior designer Alexandria Seimetz, who brings residential design experience at architecture firm Chambers. As the newest interior designer at //3877, Seimetz will support projects across the brand’s hospitality portfolio, utilizing her niche experience in club amenity spaces.
Washington, D.C.–based GrizForm Design Architects welcomed Tamara Dennis-Gamage as an architectural designer. Dennis-Gamage brings experience in commercial, residential and religious projects to her new role, most recently working with architect Errol McIntosh as a junior designer. In her new position at GrizForm, she will assist with design efforts, architectural detailing and construction documentation.
Ohio-based architecture firm Moody Nolan appointed Dawne David-Pierre as director of operations for the New York office, Kathryn T. Prigmore as director of operations for the Washington, D.C., office, and Louis Chang as associate principal and director of operations for the Philadelphia office. David-Pierre has 25 years of industry experience and has facilitated team growth since joining the firm in 2020 as the interim director of operations. In her new role, she will expand the New York office’s scope of work and community impact. Prigmore brings more than 40 years of firm leadership, project management and academic experience to her new position, where she will grow the firm’s presence. Prior to Moody Nolan, Prigmore worked at architecture firms including nSpire Design and Consulting, as well as Shalom Baranes Associates. Chang has over 20 years of industry experience, working at Daroff Design and, most recently, at Nelson Worldwide. He will now oversee all aspects of Moody Nolan’s business to amplify the firm’s regional presence.
French furniture and interior design firm Liaigre announced Rock Axtman as general manager of the Miami and Latin America region. A sales executive and interior designer, Axtman previously served as the architecture and design key accounts manager at furniture manufacturer Desiron, the national sales director of North America at Italian furniture company Promemoria and as a design associate for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams in Boston.
Media & PR
New York–based communications and digital marketing agency UpSpring promoted three team members to leadership roles: Caroline Saba as vice president and chief of staff, Ashley Bond as vice president of residential interiors and product, and Adelaide Godwin as associate vice president. Saba started as an account coordinator in 2014 and most recently served as associate vice president; in her new role, she will work with senior leadership to develop initiatives for architecture, interior design, construction and engineering clients. Bond joined UpSpring in 2017, overseeing residential interior design and architecture firms and B2C product clients; as vice president, she will serve as a senior contact for clients, cultivate company talent and mentor senior staff. Godwin has been with UpSpring since 2017, overseeing clients in architecture, construction, design and engineering, and most recently serving as senior communications director.
Lifestyle and interior design media company Apartment Therapy appointed Lindsay Funston as editor in chief of The Kitchn. Funston brings 15 years of experience in content direction for digital and print media, most recently serving as executive editor of Delish, where she spent six years helping build the brand. Previously, she led social media and content strategy for several national brands, including editor roles at O, The Oprah Magazine; Martha Stewart’s Whole Living; and Real Simple. Funston succeeds Faith Durand, who was promoted to senior vice president of content at The Kitchn in 2022.
Retail & Manufacturing
Home furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams appointed Chris Moye as interim CEO and board member, replacing Allison O’Connor. Moye has held CEO and interim CEO roles outside the home sector, including a year-long interim stint at nutrition brand GA Foods and two years at the helm of business consulting company Crossmark.
Family-owned French furniture brand Ligne Roset announced that cousins Antoine Roset and Olivier Roset will jointly serve as chief executive officers. Over the past 16 years, the duo worked across various business departments to gain a broad array of experiences at the company. During their tenure, Olivier was responsible for finance and production, serving as the director of finance and general director, while Antoine oversaw marketing and the commercial business as the global marketing director and executive vice president of Roset USA. Their fathers, Michel Roset and Pierre Roset, remain president and CEO, respectively, of Ligne Roset parent company Groupe Roset SAS.
Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen announced Carly Conelli as CEO for the United States and Canada, and Austin Durling as the PR and marketing manager for North America. Conelli has experience in design brands including Roll & Hill, Aerin, Ralph Lauren and Caro Home, where she most recently served as their senior vice president of sales and merchandising. She will be responsible for wholesale partners and work closely with the Louis Poulsen sales team in North America and Denmark on a growth plan for the United States and Canada. Durling brings experience in media relations, partnerships and influencer marketing, previously working for PR company Sharp Think and most recently as the U.S. PR manager at computers and electronics manufacturing company VanMoof.
Michigan-based furniture manufacturer Gorman’s Home Furnishings announced the retirement of CEO Tom Lias. Over the course of his 53-year career, Lias served as vice president and general manager of Ethan Allen stores in Michigan and Ohio before becoming co-owner and president of eight La-Z-Boy stores in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Lias joined Gorman’s in 1983 and was elevated to the position of CEO in 2017, and he was recently honored as Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News for his legacy of philanthropic work with local nonprofit The Arc of Oakland County, which serves people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Furniture and accessories brand Fritz Hansen appointed Chris Paulsen as vice president of the Americas. With more than a decade of retail and contract management experience, Paulsen most recently served as the managing director of the Americas for furniture manufacturer Gubi and formerly as the general manager at Design Within Reach. In his new role, Paulsen will help promote growth and empower the local markets in America.
New York–based modern home furnishings company Maiden Home hired Nadia Dobel as senior product development manager. Dobel has experience in product management and development, previously holding managerial roles at business consulting service Fabric to Finish, Kohl’s and Stitch Fix.
Design company and material manufacturer Designtex welcomed Oriana Reich as vice president of marketing. Reich brings experience in creative marketing strategy, previously co-founding her own consultancy firm The Joinery Limited and working as the brand director of wholesale building materials company Shaw Contract. After collaborating with Designtex on creative direction over the past year and a half, Reich will manage and direct the brand’s creative, marketing and go-to market strategies.
Home accessories store Sid & Co appointed Charles Comeau as senior designer and director of new business development. With more than 30 years of experience, Comeau returns to the design industry after his company Dessin Fournir filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019.
Window treatment brand Hunter Douglas appointed Christin Tang as the director of advertising. Tang most recently worked at kitchen and bath manufacturer Kohler Co. for seven years as the channel manager for digital marketing. In her new role, she will lead full-funnel marketing strategies and campaigns across traditional and digital paid media channels.
Perigold, Wayfair’s high-end division, announced Meghan Moreland as head of copy. Moreland’s previous roles include senior editor of product copy for RH, as well as content creation positions at home services publication The Franklin Report and West Elm.
Decorative lighting company Crystorama welcomed Ben Tuminello as national sales director. Tuminello has 20 years of sales management and business development experience, including at The Home Depot and most recently as the director of e-commerce at electrical manufacturing company Satco Products Inc. In his new role, Tuminello will provide leadership, market strategy, customer management and product development insight for the company’s team.
Furniture wholesaler Sagebrook Home appointed Kendra Wilkins as director of merchandising. Wilkins has 16 years of product development and merchandise experience, previously working at IMAX Worldwide Imports for 13 years as senior buyer, and most recently as director of product development at Kavana Decor by The Import Collection. In her new role, Wilkins will create a new higher-end lifestyle brand launching in fall of 2023 that aims to target furniture stores, interior designers and small retailers.
Mattress producer Serta Simmons Bedding named Guy Longworth as chief marketing officer and Brian Dengler as chief innovation officer. With more than 30 years of global marketing experience, Longworth held leadership roles at brands including Intuit and Sony Interactive Entertainment America, as well as technology startups like agriculture-tech company Farmers Business Network. In his new role, Longworth will be responsible for leading the SSB portfolio of brands and oversee the company’s strategy and licensing business. Dengler brings more than 30 years of product development experience to SSB, previously holding senior leadership roles at Yeti, Newell Brands and most recently Instant Brands, a global manufacturer of kitchen and homeware appliances. Dengler will be responsible for SSB’s innovation strategy, R&D and product development, aesthetics and advanced engineering.
Mattress company Saatva promoted Shari Ajayi to public relations director, Christina Heiser to content director and Kristen Jefferson to senior social media manager. A nine-year veteran of the home furnishings industry, Ajayi previously managed U.S. public relations and marketing for The Rug Company, and marketing and communications for the Americas at B&B Italia; in her new role, she will continue to lead public relations strategy as the brand’s first in-house publicist. Heiser has been with the company since 2018 and is an experienced writer, editor and content strategist with more than a decade of experience, previously holding roles at Women’s Health and working with a variety of editorial and content marketing clients including The Vitamin Shoppe and L’Oréal. Heiser will lead content strategy for Saatva’s Sleep Enlightened blog. Jefferson joined Saatva as social media manager in 2020, having previously managed social media and corporate gifting for New Jersey–based gourmet food purveyor D’Artagnan. Jefferson will continue leading social media strategy and influencer partnerships for the company’s growing social media channels.
Industry Organizations
The Chicago Architecture Center appointed Lisa Pickell, president of local design and architecture firm Orren Pickell Building Group, to its board of trustees. Pickell has led OPBG since 2017, expanding the firm’s footprint with custom home projects in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
The University of Pennsylvania announced that Rossana Ju-shan Hu will lead the school’s architecture department starting in January 2024. Co-founder of Shanghai-based design practice Neri&Hu, Hu will bring her multidisciplinary mindset and global view to the role. Her approach to urban renewal is exemplified in projects such as the Waterhouse at South Bund in Shanghai, and her firm’s designs have received international awards.
Science in Design, a program focused on educating interior designers about how their work can serve as a health resource, appointed Angela Harris to the certification advisory board. A product designer herself, Harris has worked with builders, developers and product manufacturers for the past 22 years and is the CEO, principal and founder of design companies Trio, Bode & Well and By Angela Harris.
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