Comfort hires senior VP
Damewood to lead sales, development
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, April 6, 2009
WILLOWBROOK, Ill. — Bedding producer Comfort Solutions has continued to bolster its executive ranks with the addition of industry veteran Kevin Damewood as senior vice president of sales and business development, a new position.
Damewood, who formerly held key sales posts at Sealy, Simmons and Spring Air, reports to David Binke, executive vice president of sales for Comfort Solutions.
Damewood, who will be based in Maryland, is the fourth industry veteran to join the executive ranks of the Top 10 bedding producer this year. Eric Jent and Howard Galant are vice presidents of sales development, and Owen Shoemaker is vice president of product development.
All four hold newly created positions that reflect a strategic plan by Comfort Solutions to increase its service to retailers and boost sales development programs, company officials said. The hires come at a time when other bedding producers are trimming their staffs in the face of a challenging business climate.
“We believe in the aggressive growth plan that we've set for our company and in the value of having the most knowledgeable and experienced executives possible to execute it,” said Dave Roberts, CEO and president of Comfort Solutions.
Damewood held sales, key account and district management positions at Sealy from 1983 to 1995. Then he spent 10 years at Simmons, in national accounts and sales roles, before leaving in 2005 as senior vice president of sales and marketing. After that, he spent two years at Spring Air as executive vice president of sales.
“Despite the difficult economy, we're positioning ourselves to aggressively drive sales performance and service over the next few years by making a substantial investment now in the right people,” Binke said.
Binke joins Comfort Solutions
02/20/2007New team hitting its stride
05/19/2007Comfort Solutions adds two
01/20/2007Wozniak, Rakauskas join Comfort Solutions
01/17/2007
