New Cosentino N’America CEO
Cosentino, corporate sales director for the Canteria, Spain-based Cosentino Group for seven years, succeeds Roberto Contreras Jr., who’s led the North American operation since its inception in the mid-1990s.
The change comes after the Cosentino Group acquired full ownership of Cosentino North America in the latter part of 2009. Contreras will support the transition through the end of this year before pursuing new ventures.
“Roberto has been key to the success of Cosentino in North America, and we’re forever grateful for his contributions,” said Francisco Cosentino, president of the Cosentino Group. “He’s been a true partner whom we respect, appreciate and will forever maintain contact with.”
In 1996, Contreras and Cosentino first opened Cosentino North America as a joint partnership, receiving prestigious awards and recognitions over the years, including the Inc.’s America’s 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies award in 2005.
“I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments made with Cosentino and feel confident that under Eduardo’s leadership, they will reach a new level of success,” Contreras said.
Eduardo Cosentino previously supervised sales and marketing efforts for the Cosentino Group worldwide, including North and Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. His responsibility to the Executive Committee permitted him to acquire experience in the aspects of design and implementation of the business strategies.
“This is a very exciting time for a global company like ours as we focus on developing the U.S. market,” he said. “We are confident that with the experience of our U.S. leadership team, our production capacity and our strategic business model, we will continue to be a leader in the kitchen and bath surfacing market.”
He’ll attend the Cosentino 100 Conference on Jan. 30 to address the companies’ top 100 customers and share his long-term plan of expansion in detail.
Cosentino North America, with more than 650 U.S. employees, runs and operates 13 distribution centers and 12 fabrication shops across the country, and markets its products through a network of some 3,000 independent stone fabricators.
Its U.S. expansion plans in the United States include the opening of Cosentino Centers, a concept already proven an essential fixture in Europe. More than showrooms, the centers are designed to support, promote, and educate trade professionals by integrating distribution facilities, exhibition areas, workspaces for designers to bring clients, classrooms for continuing education, and fully functioning kitchens/event space for demonstrations.
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