Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
DeLandis Names Rudwall President of U.S. Operations
September 16,
2013 by in Executive Changes, Industry
The operation was established this year through a partnership between Classic Brands, Jessup, Md., and China-based DeLandis.
Rudwall joins the company with more than 36 years experience in senior level management, sales and marketing posts at various home furnishings companies. His key responsibilities at DeLandis include overseeing the North American day-to-day business operations, as well as launching brand-building initiatives and establishing retailer relationships.
Previously, Rudwall served as president and CEO of international leather supplier Luonto Furniture Inc., where he spearheaded successful product launches and oversaw the recruitment, hiring and training of the company’s national sales representatives. He was founder and president of LeatherOne Furniture, where he managed all merchandising, marketing and sales functions and helped to develop a number of award-winning advertising campaigns. He also held the position of vice president of sales at Italian leather supplier SoftLine SpA where he significantly increased the company’s sales revenue.
“We are tremendously pleased to have someone with such vast experience and commitment to the industry as Chuck at the helm of DeLandis Furniture’s North American efforts,” said Classic Brands CEO Michael Zippelli . “There is a real opportunity to translate DeLandis’s global success to the American market and there is no one more qualified than Chuck to lead that charge. His years of extensive background in both the manufacturing and retail ends of the home furnishings business will be monumental to establishing the company as a leader in the country.”
Rudwall is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in communications and business.
He currently resides in Chattanooga, Tenn., with his wife and two children.
DeLandis, based in Quanzhou, China, was founded in 1998 and manufactures product in two side-by-side, state-of-the-art factories in China. Within this 2 million-square-foot factory space, the company also manufactures specialty foam products, which it supplies to customers in more than 60 countries.