Paul Sarazin, Veteran Luggage Industry Leader, Promoted to President at Ricardo Beverly Hills

LA MIRADA, Calif., May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Dodson, CEO, Ricardo Beverly Hills, one of the largest luggage companies in America, announced today the promotion of Paul Sarazin to President of the company. Sarazin was previously Executive Vice President and will continue to report directly to Dodson.

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"Paul has exceptional leadership qualities that have contributed significantly to the sustained growth of all three of our brands: Ricardo Beverly Hills, Skyway and IZOD. Paul and I will continue to oversee the business together, with Paul focusing on sales and marketing, both domestically and internationally, while I focus on manufacturing and product development," said Dodson. Sarazin has more than 30 years of management experience in the consumer goods sector. He has earned a reputation as a talented executive with a successful track record in building results-driven sales organizations, both domestically and internationally.

Sarazin said: "We are very excited about our sales growth and brand-building efforts around the globe. All three of our brands are performing extremely well."

"Robert and I are very pleased with our Ricardo Beverly Hills sales growth in the U.S. market and are extremely excited about our international sales, which have exceeded our expectations. We have major expansion plans in the international marketplace."

"We have also secured major business under our Skyway brand since its acquisition about 15 months ago," Sarazin added. "Skyway has over 100 years of history with a global reputation for developing great luggage and casual bags known for their excellent designs, quality and value. Our customers have responded very well to our new products that we launched at the Travel Goods Show in March 2013."

Prior to joining Ricardo Beverly Hills, Sarazin served as Executive Vice President of Sales, Dennis East International (DEI), where he was responsible for all Sales and Marketing. Prior to his position at DEI, he was the President of The Robert Allen Group International, as well as the Executive Vice President of Global Sales.

Before joining The Robert Allen Group, Sarazin held a 17-year tenure as a member of the management teams of both American Tourister and Samsonsite, which included overseeing all divisions and brands/U.S. wholesale as Samsonite Vice President of Sales.

As President of Ricardo Beverly Hills, Sarazin will continue to focus on increasing Ricardo's U.S. market share across all three of the company's brands.

"We will continue to expand our product offerings in luggage, casual bags, backpacks, business cases and handbags," Sarazin said. "We will also continue to significantly increase our international sales with our Ricardo Beverly Hills and Skyway brands."

ABOUT RICARDO BEVERLY HILLS │ One of the largest luggage companies in the United States, Ricardo Beverly Hills is celebrating 35 years in business in 2013 and is an acknowledged fashion leader and trendsetter in the luggage industry. Recently named (for the second time) in National Geographic's book, The Ten Best of Everything by Nathaniel Lande, the company remains committed to designing fresh, unique and innovative luggage collections that offer quality and value at affordable prices. Ricardo Beverly Hills was founded in 1978 by Richard "Ricardo" Gibbs, formerly a travel products salesman who identified a need for great looking luggage with superior performance capabilities. Ricardo Beverly Hills luggage is available at Macy's, Kohl's, Sears, Belk, Bon-Ton and Boscov's, luggage specialty stores nationwide and through many online retailers.

For media inquiries, please contact Jan Strode, CEO Advisors, [email protected]; 619-890-4040.

SOURCE Ricardo Beverly Hills