The weather’s getting warmer, and things are heating up for the design industry, too—with fresh hires and leadership changes galore. As the industry continues to grow, read on for Business of Home’s monthly roundup of arrivals and departures in design, manufacturing, media and more.

To The Trade

Josefine Milora has joined Danish textile firm Kvadrat and will lead marketing, events and communications for the firm’s U.S. team while based in New York. Milora most recently worked with Susan Grant Lewin Associates and has a special appreciation for the Kvadrat brand after growing up in Denmark.

Wendover Art Group has announced the addition of Sarah Guarnizo as the organization’s new director of marketing. In her new role, Guarnizo will oversee omnichannel marketing strategy, as well as brand and creative execution, and offers more than 20 years of relevant experience at companies including Arteriors, Wisteria, Hearst Magazines and Meredith Corporation.

Claire Cingari joins Thibaut as the designer wallpaper brand’s in-house marketing communications manager. Cingari brings with her a background in luxury goods, working for brands like JCK and UNOde50, and most recently overseeing marketing and PR for brand partnerships and collaborations at Swarovski.

F. Schumacher & Co. has announced the promotion of former president Benni Frowein to CEO of the company’s Europe and Middle East divisions. Frowein will be based in London for the newly created role, overseeing the brand’s expansion into European and Middle Eastern markets.

Carnegie Fabrics has appointed Gordon Boggis as CEO. Boggis offers more than 17 years of leadership experience—most recently as the CEO of Mission, a textile company that produces personal cooling gear.

Media & PR

Changes are afoot at Architectural Digest. Longtime style director Jane Keltner de Valle is leaving; she’ll be pursuing her baby skin-care brand Paloroma full-time. Meanwhile, Katy Olson, editor of AD Pro, announced her departure last week. In other Condé Nast news, Andrew Kilbourn is leaving his position as head of experiences to join Credit Suisse as global head of events and live marketing.

Departures home and design director Dan Rubinstein is leaving the magazine following the release of its 2021 Home + Design issue, concluding more than six years at the publication’s helm. Rubenstein’s exit comes after parent company American Express announced in late March it was shuttering the magazine’s print edition and switching to a digital-first model—a decision that also signaled the departure of editor in chief Jeffries Blackerby, who led the magazine’s editorial team for more than four years.

Jeremy Jankowski recently joined the team at Pinterest as a Home & Design creator management lead. Serving most recently as chief client officer for Domino, Jankowski has spent more than 14 years working in digital media for brands such as Refinery29, Mode Media Corporation and Say Media.

The Consultancy PR has welcomed two new hires—Madeleine DeSena as senior account executive and Jessica Reyes as social media associate—and Nicole Swansen has been promoted to account executive after having served as PR assistant and account coordinator.

Sarah Bell has joined Sharp Think PR as a senior account executive following a previous position at UpSpring PR. In her new position, Bell takes on a client roster that includes brands such as Arteriors, Bertazzoni, Cosentino Group and Ketra.

Carl Dellatore has launched Carl Dellatore & Associates, a digital strategy consultancy business for designers, architects and creatives. With more than three decades of experience in the design industry, he builds on expertise gained in textile design, as a workroom owner, and through content development for shelter publications such as House & Garden, Martha Stewart Living, and House Beautiful, along with the production of several books for Rizzoli New York.

Design & Architecture

Decorating Den Interiors has appointed Aly Meiklejohn as its new controller and welcomes Hannah Wedin to the marketing staff in its Easton, Maryland, corporate office. In her new role, Meiklejohn will oversee administration of the company’s finance department, while Wedin will serve franchises by producing local marketing materials for print and digital usage.

Washington, D.C.–based architecture and design firm //3877 has brought on Sophie Buteau as its newest architectural designer. Buteau, who grew up in Haiti, gained hands-on experience working in the hotel industry from a young age and will bring her expertise to the company to craft hotel and restaurant spaces.

At the San Francisco chapter of hospitality firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, Jacob Royster has been promoted from senior project designer to associate. First joining the company as an intern, Royster rose through the ranks over the past nine years and will now lead interior design for projects including Pebble Beach Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Cancun, and the Elusa Winery at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley.

Manufacturing & Retail

Lenox Corporation has announced the appointment of Bob Burbank as its next CEO, along with the departure of current CEO Mads Ryder. Burbank’s background in the consumer products sector spans more than 20 years—in his new role, he’ll be responsible for managing the corporation’s portfolio of brands, with a special focus on the supplier and retail level. In other company news, Lucas Updegraph has assumed the role of chief revenue officer, joining the company from Villeroy & Boch, where he served as president and CEO.

Clark Linstone has been named president of Lamps Plus, building on 30 years spent with the company, most recently as chief operating officer. In his new role, Linstone will maintain the responsibilities of his previous position, while overseeing all business operations, stores and distribution center operations, and continuing oversight of Lamps Plus Hospitality, the company’s hotel and resort trade arm.

At Home Source Industries, Sharon Shichor has been named managing partner and CEO, after her consultancy firm Eighteen Knowledge Group advised the company and managed its e-commerce for several years prior. Zack Evar, former acting CEO, will continue on with the company as president and managing partner.

Luxury home decor manufacturer John-Richard has named Jonathan Michael Parks as the brand’s chief merchandising and marketing officer—a new position created to keep the company on the path to expansion. Parks previously served in leadership roles at Ethan Allen Global, and he will focus on overseeing design, development, merchandising, marketing and sales.

Target has named Samara Tuchband as its new senior vice president of merchandising for the home category, which includes decorative home, stationery, bath, kitchen and storage. Tuchband’s experience in merchandising and marketing stretches back two decades, and she most recently served as both vice president of merchandising and head of diversity and inclusion at Crate & Barrel Holdings Inc.

Serta Simmons Bedding has announced several changes to its leadership team, appointing Melanie Huet as chief commercial officer and Shelley Huff as chief operating officer. Huet will retain her former title of chief marketing officer, while taking on the responsibilities of accelerating e-commerce growth, strengthening the brand’s omnichannel approach and increasing its speed to market. Huff will also retain her former title as CEO of sub-brand Tuft & Needle, and will focus on expanding the brand’s digital-first mindset while overseeing supply chain and customer experience teams.

Weekends Only Furniture & Mattress has announced the promotion of Lane Hamm to president and CEO after he served as president since 2014. The Midwestern retailer also announced the promotion of Chelsea Hughes from vice president of merchandising to vice president of merchandising, marketing and digital experience.

The Elk Home product development team welcomes two new hires—Gil Sturtzel, joining as product development director focusing on Studio furniture and key accounts, and Jake Blake as product development director for home decor. Sturtzel previously oversaw company growth for Sunny Designs in Rancho Cucamonga, California, while Blake comes from a position with Flair Home, where he oversaw product development and merchandising for furniture and accessories. In other Elk Home news, Victoria Corea joins the marketing team as director of brand, spearheading the company’s rebranding and corporate messaging efforts.

The Container Store has named Satish Malhotra as its next CEO. Malhotra brings more than 20 years of experience at beauty products retailer Sephora, where he served as chief retail and operating officer. Former CEO Melissa Reiff has announced her retirement, though she will continue to serve as board chairwoman until the annual shareholder meeting in late 2021.

Several leadership changes are underway for pottery and home goods manufacturer East Fork, as former CMO and co-founder Connie Matisse steps into the role of CEO. In the new position, Matisse will oversee marketing, creative and culture and people teams, along with the executive team and executive committee. Former CEO and co-founder Alex Matisse will be transitioning into the role of board chair, while the company’s Director of Operations Zoe Dadian has been promoted to COO, in which she will manage the production, sales and operations teams. In addition to restructuring at the top, East Fork has implemented a $20 per hour minimum wage for entry-level roles—well above the state minimum wage of $7.25.

Trade Shows

Claudio Luti has resigned from his position as president of the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Though a successor has not been named, the company’s board of directors plans to meet in the coming days to discuss future plans. In explaining his decision to step down ahead of the fair in September, Luti cited a lack of unity among exhibitors, whose noncommittal response to participating placed the event in a precarious position.

Digital B2B marketplace Nextrade welcomes Claus Tormöhlen as head of brand management and Jo-Anne Bartl as marketing manager. In his new position, Tormöhlen will be responsible for making the platform more user-friendly for retailers, calling on his more than 25 years of experience, most recently as head of buying for KaDeWe Group Berlin. Bartl will oversee the further expansion of the brand’s marketing team, serving as the link between retailers, brands, Nextrade and parent company Messe Frankfurt.

Wava Carpenter has been appointed as the new curatorial director for Design Miami. A specialist of modern and contemporary design, Carpenter will oversee curation for the fair’s digital platform and live events, bringing expertise from previously held positions as a curatorial adviser and former director of programming, design and commissions at the organization. Outgoing director Aric Chen will depart to assume a new role as general and artistic director of Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

New York–based interior designer Brad Ford has been named creative director of NY Now, joining the wholesale market for retailers and specialty buyers in this newly created role.

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