Performance fabric maker Sunbrella has announced the appointment of several members of its team to new leadership roles within the organization.
Andrew Bernard has been promoted to vice president of product development for the performance fabric brand. Bernard previously was vice president and general manager of shade and marine. In his new role, Bernard will lead the research and development, design, product management, pricing and product operations functions for Sunbrella, which have been integrated into one cohesive team.
Sunbrella veteran Suzie Roberts also was appointed to a new role as vice president of global Sunbrella business, leading global sales and commercial teams.
“After more than 36 years in the industry — 35 spent with Sunbrella — I’m excited to step into this next chapter and continue to elevate our global business partnerships, leading our sales and commercial teams,” Roberts said. “I am thrilled to be joined by such a talented team of leaders as we build upon Sunbrella’s foundation as the leading performance fabric and continue to grow our global business.”
Tom Notaro has taken on the leadership of Sunbrella’s furnishings business as senior general manager of the company’s furnishings business unit. Notaro’s experience in sales and retail will enable him to facilitate greater collaboration with Sunbrella manufacturing, retail, hospitality and jobber sales teams.
Greg Voorhis assumed the new role of executive director for global design, leading Sunbrella design teams around the world and guiding collaborative processes.
“As we partner with our customers, collaborators and internal teams to create Sunbrella offerings across a wide range of aesthetics, all with trusted Sunbrella performance, I am honored to take on the role of executive director across Global Design,” Voorhis said. “I have long been a part of our commitment to being a leader in innovation and look forward to continuing to drive the design direction for our global brand.”
Charlie Withers was named general manager of the shade and marine business unit, while Martin Blanc joined the material solutions group as the senior director of retail. He will work with the furnishings leadership team to enhance retail partnerships and customer engagement initiatives.
And Sarah Dooley has been appointed to a newly created role of senior director of design trade marketing and sales. Dooley will leverage her experience and relationships across the industry to develop and execute programs that build preference for and use of Sunbrella fabrics and products among the interior designer community.
“We are excited to announce key organizational shifts at Sunbrella that will bring our teams together more closely to drive innovation and continue to expand our global presence,” said Joseph Davis, president, Glen Raven Material Solutions Group, parent company of Sunbrella. “With each of these roles, we remain deeply focused on strengthening our customer partnerships and fostering collaboration in a meaningful way that allows us to build on Sunbrella’s legacy and create lasting connections for years to come.”
