Hunter Douglas Promotes Ron Kass To President And COO

PEARL RIVER, N.Y., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Marv Hopkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hunter Douglas North America, the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions in the U.S. and Canada, announced the promotion of Ron Kass to President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2014. Kass will continue to report directly to Hopkins, who is being promoted to Chairman in addition to his ongoing role as Chief Executive Officer.

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"Hunter Douglas and I are most fortunate, indeed, to have an individual of Ron's high caliber and outstanding record of performance to take on this new and larger leadership role for our great company," said Hopkins. "I have no doubt he will help lead Hunter Douglas to even higher levels of excellence in the months and years ahead."

Kass, who first joined Hunter Douglas in 2005, currently serves as President of both the Hunter Douglas Design Products Group and the Independent Fabricator Group of companies and as Executive Vice President of Marketing, where he guides and directs all brand marketing, advertising and communications for the Company.  Said Hopkins, "It is noteworthy that each of these important organizations has, under Kass's intelligent and inspired leadership over the past several years, significantly improved its overall performance and results."

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities as COO, Kass will work closely with Hopkins and his Corporate staff, together with key Hunter Douglas managers and their organizations, to identify opportunities, establish objectives and develop effective plans and strategies to achieve the near and longer term goals of the Company.

Kass came to Hunter Douglas after serving as President and CEO of The Robert Allen Group, a leading U.S. fabrics company in home furnishings, where he was successful in leading that organization to the top of its industry in customer service and financial performance. Prior to Robert Allen, he worked for 13 years at Knoll, a world leader in office and residential furnishings, and held key management positions, including Vice President of Product Management, Senior Vice President of Marketing and President of Knoll Europe. 

Ron Kass graduated from Brown University in 1978 with a degree in Economics and subsequently earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980.  He and his wife, Terry, together with their son, Benno, live in New York City.

Regarding Hopkins, Ralph Sonnenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hunter Douglas N.V., said, "I am pleased to announce the promotion of Marv Hopkins to Chairman of Hunter Douglas North America, effective January 1, 2014, in addition to his ongoing role as Chief Executive Officer.  As President and CEO of Hunter Douglas North America for the past 19 years, Marv has provided superb leadership and achieved outstanding growth and success for the Company, and I am confident he will continue to do so in the years ahead."

Hopkins began his career with Hunter Douglas in 1986 as President of the new Window Fashions Division in Broomfield, Colo., where a steady stream of proprietary, award-winning products were introduced, including Duette® honeycomb shades, Silhouette® window shadings and Vignette® Modern Roman Shades. These and additional products developed and introduced by the Company since he became President and CEO in 1995 have catalyzed the industry, transforming window coverings from a functional commodity into a dynamic fashion and design statement.

Hopkins and his wife, Collette, live in New York City.  They have four children and nine grandchildren.

Hunter Douglas Inc., headquartered in Pearl River, N.Y., is the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window coverings in North America and a major manufacturer of architectural products with approximately 7,000 employees and 40 divisions.  The Company is also a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.  Its products include Duette® honeycomb shades, Silhouette® window shadings, Pirouette® window shadings, Vignette® Modern Roman Shades, Luminette® Privacy Sheers and Solera® Soft Shades.           

All Hunter Douglas brand products are designed, developed and custom-crafted in the U.S.  

For more information, visit www.hunterdouglas.com or call 1-800-274-2985.

SOURCE Hunter Douglas