Austin Rothbard named president of Baker

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, October 31, 2012

Austin Rothbard

CHICAGO - Kohler Co. Interiors Group has named Austin Rothbard president of Baker, a division that sells high end case goods and upholstery.

He succeeds Rachel D. Kohler, group president of the Interiors Group. She performed the role of president of Baker on an interim basis after the promotion of former Baker president Kevin Ward to vice president of furniture operations for Kohler Co. Interiors in 2010.

Rothbard was most recently president of Brunswick Billiards, a 165-year-old supplier of billiard tables. Before that, he was president of Cabo Yachts, a luxury yacht company in California. He also was a consultant at Bain & Co.

Reporting to Kohler, Rothbard will be based at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs executive offices in Chicago. He will oversee Baker Knapp & Tubbs Inc., which includes Baker Mfg., Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms and Baker Stores.

"Austin is the right leader to take Baker to the next level of performance," Kohler said in a statement. "It is his combination of leadership and experience that makes Austin the ideal president to guide Baker's future financially and strategically."