11/16/16
Lenox Corporation Announces Executive Leadership Changes Lenox Corporation Announces Executive Leadership Changes
BRISTOL, Pa., Nov. 16, 2016 – Lenox Corporation, a portfolio company of Clarion Capital Partners, announced today that Peter Cameron will be transitioning from the position of CEO to Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Katrina Helmkamp has been appointed as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer.
“Peter Cameron and I have been partners for 30 years across four successful Housewares and Tabletop businesses,” commented Marc Utay, Clarion’s Managing Partner and Lenox’s Chairman. “He is an energetic leader and I’m proud of our accomplishments together at Lenox. I look forward to working with Peter in his new role as Co-Chairman of Lenox’s Board of Directors, as the Company will continue to benefit from his deep industry experience.”
Peter Cameron, one of the industry leaders in Tabletop, Cookware, and Housewares, offered that “Lenox is a treasured American brand with dedicated employees. It has been my privilege to lead the business over these last eight years, and I am very proud of revitalizing Lenox’s prominence in the eyes of both our trade partners and consumers.” In looking toward the future for Lenox, Mr. Cameron remarked, “Katrina Helmkamp is a dynamic executive who has a history of driving profitable growth in multiple formats and channels. I look forward to assisting Katrina in her new role, and introducing her to all of the Company’s important stakeholders.”
Referring to Ms. Helmkamp’s appointment as the new CEO, Tom Goundrey, a Partner at Clarion and a Lenox Director, said “Katrina is a proven team builder with a track record of success. Lenox’s Board of Directors is excited to work with her to create a shared vision and strategy to ensure Lenox’s success for decades to come.”
Prior to joining Lenox, Katrina drove significant growth as the Chief Executive Officer of SVP Worldwide, the world’s largest sewing machine company with the Singer®, Husqvarna Viking®, and Pfaff® brand names. Prior to that role, Katrina was Senior Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation where she led product development for North America and improved margins and market share within the ~$7.5B US Major Appliances business. Before joining Whirlpool, Katrina served as Group President of ServiceMaster, responsible for the branch-based businesses of Terminix, TruGreen Lawn, and TruGreen LandCare. Earlier in her career, Katrina was a strategy consultant and partner with The Boston Consulting Group. She holds an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering and an MBA, both from Northwestern University.
Upon joining Lenox, Katrina commented “I am grateful for the opportunity to succeed Peter Cameron at Lenox. I am particularly excited by Lenox’s portfolio of leading brands. I look forward to working closely with trade partners and engaging with a new generation of consumers and designers to launch contemporary products that build on Lenox’s unparalleled history.”
About Lenox Corporation
Lenox is a leading designer and marketer of dinnerware, flatware, glassware, giftware and other collectibles and tabletop products. The Company markets its products primarily under the Lenox, Gorham, Dansk and Reed & Barton brands. Lenox products are sold through department stores, gift and specialty retailers, and general merchandise chains, as well as through the Company’s own retail stores and consumer-direct channels of distribution, including Internet, catalog and mail order. Over its 125 year history, Lenox has been the recipient of numerous design awards including the Women’s Choice Award®, and was the first American dinnerware used at the White House. Lenox is headquartered in Bristol, PA and employs more than 850 employees. For more information, please visit the Lenox website:www.lenox.com.
About Clarion
Founded in 1999, Clarion is a New York-based investment manager operating two primary business segments: Private Equity (launched in 1999) and Structured Credit (launched in 2018). Clarion’s private equity business seeks to make primarily control investments in a diversified portfolio of lower middle-market companies generating $7.5-30.0 million of EBITDA. Clarion focuses on growth companies in industries such as: Media, Entertainment & Technology; Financial Technology & Services; Business & Healthcare Services; and Consumer & Consumer Services. Clarion’s structured credit business focuses mostly on CLO equity and mezzanine investments, sourced both in the primary and secondary markets. The structured credit team manages traditional private funds and an insurance-dedicated fund. Additional information on Clarion can be found at www.clarion-capital.com.