Though many are in vacation mode around this time, this month’s newly titled industry professionals are decidedly not. Read on to learn about the latest hires in design, manufacturing, media and more.
MEDIA & PR
Online art collector platform Artsy has appointed Mike Steib as its chief executive officer, a logical move for the company, which has focused on building its editorial content in the past few years. Steib hails from The Knot, the world’s largest wedding platform, which balances news and other editorial with shoppable content and affiliate marketing. He had more than tripled its value in the time that he was there. Artsy founder Carter Cleveland will transition to the newly created role of executive chairman.
Luxe Interiors + Design hired two new editors, Grace Beuley Hunt and Sarah Shelton. Beuley Hunt is the New York homes and design editor, working on editorial for the New York City and Hamptons editions. Shelton joins as market editor.
The Consultancy PR has appointed Nikki Dion as account executive and Nicole Swansen as PR assistant. Dion hails from Ketchum, where she worked with IKEA and other lifestyle retail brands; Swansen was recently an intern at Nylon Consulting. Earlier this month, the firm appointed Jamie Glushon as account director and Sarah Gaudar as account coordinator in its Los Angeles office.
Kristina Barry and Veronica Leva now work at New York firm UpSpring PR as account coordinator, working with clients in design, architecture and real estate.
Anna Caradeuc has begun working at Sister City, a new New York City hotel, as a freelance publicist. She was previously an account manager at NES Creative, a New York PR firm.
Dina Rosenberg was promoted to senior director at HL Group, a New York PR firm. She now oversees the home and design team.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Hospitality design studio Wimberly Interiors has named designer Josh Held as vice president and director of entertainment. He will work in the firm’s New York studio to continue building the hospitality and entertainment arms of the practice, which was founded in 2011.
Bethesda, Maryland–based firm Lorna Gross Interior Design has two new hires, project manager Marci Millen and associate interior designer Zulma Puhl.
The American Society of Interior Designers has three new members on its industry partnerships team: Joyce R. O’Brien, Jon Strassner and Cara Mitchell. They will work on developing relationships between professional designers and non-designer industry members.
Boston Preservation Alliance has named Regan Shields Ives, principal at Boston–based Finegold Alexander Architects, as co–vice chair on the alliance’s executive board of directors. She has been a member of the BPA for the past decade, helping to protect and improve the city’s historic sites and landmarks.
Architecture firm Wilson Associates has appointed JoyceLynn Lagula as design director to its Las Vegas–based hospitality team; she will lead all projects and manage client relations.
Oak Brook, Illinois–based Whitney Architects appointed Kate Logan as design director, where she will spearhead the firm’s general approach to design.
MANUFACTURING & RETAIL
Antonio Nieves is now CEO of Interior Define, a Chicago-based digitally native furniture brand. Founder Rob Royer is now chairman of the board. “We’ve experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and I’m excited to partner with Antonio to steward our next evolution,” says Royer in a statement. “Antonio’s perspective from high-growth, custom-center brands (Bonobos and Modcloth) couldn’t align more perfectly with the vision for the industry-altering brand we set out to build.” Nieves, capitalizing on the growth period, will build out the sofa with complementing categories, expand product assortment and focus on physical retail.
Robin Gordon is the vice president of marketing at ELK Group International. She had previously been vice president of marketing and advertising at Robert Allen Duralee Group for two years and Duralee for 15 years. ELK was said to be one of the early interested parties in the purchase of RAD Group following its bankruptcy.
Taylorsville, North Carolina–based luxury furniture manufacturer Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams named Kimberly Barta as chief marketing officer. She starts July 25. Barta was previously at Nike, where she served as chief marketing officer of Cultivator, a Nike platform that lets creators design and sell their own sneakers. In her new role, she will oversee brand strategy. Earlier this month, the company appointed omnichannel executive Allison O’Connor as president and CEO.
Alpharetta, Georgia–based kitchen and bath brand Bocchi USA appointed Drew Valles as its national sales director. Valles will oversee the brand’s growth in the U.S., including expanding its customer base and solidifying the brand’s reputation as a leader in kitchen and bath. Bocchi is a European brand has focused on the U.S. market for the past few years.
Archdale, North Carolina–based upholstery company O. Henry House has appointed Phillip Jeffries as creative director, working with president Laura Gregory to oversee all of the brand's design and supporting sales and quality control. “Our shared passions for quality, design and relationships with the interior design community make joining O. Henry House feel like an effortless, natural fit,” Jeffries tells BOH. Previously, Jeffries worked in Atlanta and New York. He hails from High Point, North Carolina, furniture company Ferrell Mittman.
Cortina Leathers appointed Jana Weill as its first marketing director. The New York–based brand is planning on a significant expansion in both its physical space and its team. Weill was previously director of events and communications for Robert Allen Duralee Group.
WantedDesign appointed Katherine Lock as director of retail, a newly created position based in its Brooklyn shop. She previously worked at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum for 18 years.
