This month in the home industry, brands are shaking things up with a slew of new leaders and several newly created positions at the top. Read on for Business of Home’s monthly roundup of arrivals and departures in design, manufacturing, media and more.

Design & Architecture

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group has grown its staff with the addition of 33 new associates; a new director, Jens Majdal Kaarsholm; and seven new partners, including Andy Young, Lorenzo Boddi, João Albuquerque, Douglass Alligood, Lars Larsen, Giulia Frittoli and Daria Pahhota. In the last four years, the firm has more than doubled to a team exceeding 500 employees, due partially to its efforts to expand operations to include landscape, engineering and product design.

At Tennessee-based firm Cope Architecture, a series of leadership changes have been announced as former president Lanny Cope moves into a new role as president emeritus, with former executive vice president Cayce Smith succeeding him. In turn, the firm’s principal architects, Peter Ludman and Jim Hinton, have been promoted to director of design and vice president, respectively.

Janea Nakagawa has been appointed president of BraytonHughes Design Studios. She succeeds former president Joel Villalon, who served the company from the beginning of its 30-year history. Nakagawa first joined the firm in 2005, becoming its first female principal and specializing in corporate, multifamily and residential interiors projects for a diverse group of clients.

Media & PR

Tom Russell has joined Home News Now as editor in chief—a role formerly held by founding editor Clint Engel, who will continue on as executive editor. Previously, Russell moved through multiple editorial roles at Furniture Today beginning in 2003, most recently serving as the site’s senior editor covering case goods and global sourcing. His background also includes roles as editor of the Triad Business Journal, which included coverage of High Point Market and the home furnishings industry at large, and business editor for the High Point Enterprise.

UpSpring PR has hired Oriana Lerner as associate communications director to grow the firm’s roster of hospitality, architecture, design and real estate clients. Lerner’s work in the industry includes several B2B editorial roles, including special projects editor and conference program manager for the Boutique Design hospitality brand.

Also at UpSpring, Selin Ashaboglu has departed the firm to assume the role of PR and marketing manager at Carnegie. Ashaboglu brings experience as a former senior account executive with UpSpring, along with a role as assistant editor of products, technology and practice at Architect magazine, the journal of the American Institute of Architects.

Jamie Glushon has been promoted to managing director at The Consultancy PR. Glushon’s experience with the firm includes previous roles as senior public relations director and public relations director, as well as similar positions with Society6, Hutch, and Laurel & Wolf. In other company promotions, Sarah Day has moved into an account executive position after joining the firm as public relations coordinator. TCPR is also welcoming a few new faces, as Lauren Guizzetti and Savannah Davis join the team as its newest public relations coordinators, departing roles with Kim Kardashian West and RK Communications, respectively.

Retail & Manufacturing

Former Herman Miller CEO Brian Walker has joined the board of directors for adaptive office solutions company Room. In addition to serving a 29-year tenure with Herman Miller, Walker currently serves as a partner of strategic leadership at private equity firm Huron Capital, and will assist Room in growing its global supply chain toward international expansion.

Luxury linen brand Peacock Alley has brought on Grant Jackson as vice president of customer experience; he is tasked with growing the company’s retail and wholesale divisions. Grant brings nearly 10 years of experience in the textile and furnishing industry, including serving as the North American sales director for Perennials and Sutherland LLC.

Artaic has tapped Kait Paradowski as its next design director, a position operating out of the brand’s new headquarters in Charlestown, Massachusetts. In the newly created role, Paradowski will lead the brand’s design department, overseeing in-house collections and the design proposal process for new clients.

Home furnishings designer and wholesaler Four Hands has welcomed Jim Anderson as its first chief technology officer, with the goal of replacing the brand’s current technology suite with new leading-edge platforms by mid-2022. Anderson’s 25 years of experience includes a most recent role as COO at White Mountain Footwear Group.

Phil Cole has joined the leadership team at Clive Christian Furniture in the role of global sales director. Cole’s background includes nearly a decade spent contributing to British-based tapware manufacturer Perrin & Rowe, which extended to the Shaws of Darwen and Victoria + Albert brands following the company’s acquisition by Fortune Brands.

To The Trade

Salone del Mobile has named Maria Porro as its new president—she is the first woman to hold the position in the fair’s 59-year history. In addition to serving most recently as president of Assarredo, Porro’s industry experience includes a previous role with Italian design brand Porro S.p.A. and on the board of directors for the Altagamma Foundation.

Dallas Market Center welcomes Troy Hanson in the newly created role of senior leasing director, design and new business development. Formerly, Hanson was co-founder, principal and producer of the WestEdge Design Fair in Santa Monica, California, as well as the director of leasing and producer for the Mart, where he launched the Architectural Digest Design Show. In his new position, Hanson will oversee strategic merchandising, prospecting and leasing of design neighborhoods within the DMC.

Jacob Teplin has joined MarketTime in the newly established position of COO; he’ll be responsible for all aspects of sales, customer support and operations for the software solutions company. Teplin’s 15 years of experience include a previous role as vice president of corporate development for the Dallas-based Crow Holdings, as well as an operational role with Bain & Company leading revenue enhancement projects for Fortune 500 companies.

Industry Organizations

The New School has announced the appointment of Jonah Nigh to senior vice president for development and alumni engagement. Nigh joins the university following a previous position as chief development officer of the Jewish Museum in New York, and his experience has extended to institutions such as the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Opera America, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

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