Eichholtz appoints new CEO; Bassett promotes 7 execs | Who’s News

Albert van der Veen has been appointed CEO of Eichholtz, effective June 1.

Van der Veen succeeds Michiel Herkemij, who will return to the supervisory board after the handover.

Albert van der Veen, former CEO of growth company XD Connects, is an entrepreneur through and through and has extensive experience in scaling brands and organizations.

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Bassett Furniture Inds. has promoted seven key executives in a move that company officials said will strengthen the company’s sales, marketing and product development leadership and support the company’s continued growth.

Bassett officials announced that Tony Chivari, previously senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing and will lead Bassett’s retail and wholesale organizations as well as marketing and product development.

Chivari is a veteran of several consumer products companies including Spiegel Inc., Things Remembered and 1-800-Flowers.com and joined Bassett in 2024 after working as a consultant for the company focused on digital marketing and e-commerce initiatives. Reporting to Chivari are Nick Gee, Anne Spilman-Souter, Robert Spilman III and Heather Petersen.

Currently senior vice president of Bassett Retail, Gee will be expanding his current responsibilities overseeing the performance of the 57 Bassett Home Furnishings corporate stores to include oversight of the licensed Bassett Home Furnishings stores. Gee joined Bassett 27 years ago and has worked within the Bassett licensee network, as a regional manager and vice president of Bassett Retail.

Spilman-Souter has been promoted to vice president of product development in addition to her current role as creative director and will work with the team to bring new products in brand enhancing formats to market. Prior to joining Bassett in 2020, she worked for design firms Circa Inc., and Katie Ridder Designs, before ultimately founding Anne Spilman Designs in New York.

In his new role as vice president of sales, Robert Spilman III, will assume responsibility for all wholesale sales of Bassett products outside of the Bassett stores. Working with Haynes King, vice president of dedicated distribution, he will oversee the sales rep organization and direct sales efforts in the Bassett Design Center and Bassett Custom Studio programs, as well as the interior design trade and the new Bassett Hospitality division. He was previously vice president of dedicated distribution.

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The Annie Selke Companies named Wendy Reiss vice president of sales.

Reiss has over 30 years of experience in the home furnishings industry and will lead wholesale sales strategy and accelerate revenue growth for lead Rugs USA: The Annie Selke brands, which include Dash & Albert and Pine Cone Hill.

Previously, Reiss served as vice president at Kas Rugs, Inc., where she was instrumental in leading successful sales teams, developing successful sales strategies, and driving business over numerous wholesale channels.

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Dallas Market Center has promoted Amy Harper to executive vice president of marketing, responsible for the marketing division and supporting both buyer and exhibitor marketing as well as events, market services and retail development.

She reports to president and CEO Cindy Morris.

Harper has been with the company since 2001, beginning with retail liaison positions for apparel and accessories, international, and then assuming retail leadership for all industries. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of retail development and market services.

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Home furnishings supplier BDI has appointed Rico Berrios as vice president of sales.

Berrios joins BDI from Jaipur Living and has previously held leadership roles at Massoud Furniture and American Leather.

In his new role, Berrios will lead BDI’s national sales organization, working closely with retail partners, sales representatives and internal teams to support continued growth and strengthen the company’s presence across retail, the design trade and emerging channels.