MONTREAL, Quebec (BRAIN)—Dorel Industries has implemented a new senior management structure that adds a president to each of the company’s three segments, including the division that oversees Dorel’s bike business.
Dorel owns Pacific Cycle, Cannondale and Sugoi, which fall into Dorel’s recreation and leisure segment.
The company named Robert P. Baird Jr. president of that division on May 30.
Baird has served in senior executive positions in the United States at Philips Electronics, most recently as the transformation leader in charge of combining the consumer electronics and domestic appliance businesses into the new consumer lifestyle sector.
He has extensive experience in the consumer goods industry across multiple companies including Samsonite, Scott Paper, Bristol Myers and Procter & Gamble.
Baird holds an MBA degree from the J.L. Kellogg School at Northwestern University and a B.A. in economics from St. Lawrence University.
He will be relinquishing his seat on Dorel’s board of directors and a new independent director will be named in the coming months.
Dorel has also named a president for its juvenile segment and will do the same for its home furnishings division.
The new executives will help guide the company as it looks to grow to the next level, said Martin Schwartz, chief executive officer of Dorel.
“Dorel is a world player in its sectors, and is committed to becoming an even more prominent force. These are exciting times for Dorel and we must ensure that we maximize further opportunities, deliver long-term sustainable growth and above all, maximize shareholder value. Each of these executives will focus strictly on their respective segments to ensure smooth and efficient operations as well as to identify new product lines, new territories, and other opportunities. We are fortunate to have assembled such talent. This sets the stage for a new important chapter in Dorel’s evolution,” Schwartz said.
All three executives will report to Dorel’s executive committee, comprised of Martin Schwartz, chief financial officer Jeffrey Schwartz and executive vice presidents Alan Schwartz and Jeff Segel.