LEVIS, Québec (BRAIN) — Hawley-Lambert said it has made several strategic staffing changes to best support vendor and retailer growth.
The distributor's longtime director of product, Andre Trudeau, has transitioned to a new role as director of vendor business development. In this role, Trudeau will work to attract new brands to the company, while also working with existing brands to react faster to market trends.
Filling the position vacated by Trudeau is longtime product manager Dave Savard. Savard will report to Pat McGinnis, the vice president of commercial, who said, "Our mantra is that we equip success, and that extends to the vendors and retailers we support. We are building deep relationships with brands, understanding their business as if it's our own. By more closely aligning product with sales and marketing, it allows us to better equip our retail partners with the brand knowledge they need to be successful."
In another change, Brian McKinney joins the company as regional sales manager for the eastern United States. McKinney was most recently in brand management at ASI.
"I've been tasked with focusing on growth in the Northeast and Midwest, and my priority is to first realign sales territories in these regions," said McKinney. "I've begun the recruiting process to reshape our sales team with professionals who understand how to sell and teach brands, while also understanding how to best support retailers in a changing marketplace."
Another change is the recent promotion of Monica Davis to the position of e-commerce & national accounts manager covering the United States. An industry veteran of Michelin and Giant, Davis reports to Chad Smith, the director of national accounts. "Monica will work closely with select brands to facilitate their online and national accounts strategies. She will transition to the role once a replacement is hired covering her territory," the company said in a statement this week.
