People around the industry

Oakland, N.J. — Anthony P. Cappiello has joined Russ Berrie as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. He will reports to President and CEO Andy Gatto.

Cappiello's responsibilities include day-to-day oversight of areas such as operations, information technology, Far East operations, legal, internal audit and human resources as well as strategic leadership to achieve long- and short-term goals.

"Tony brings a wealth of experience and success in information systems, operations and administration to our company," Gatto said. "We're delighted to have him as a valuable addition to our senior management team."

Before joining Russ Berrie, Cappiello was chief operating officer at Waterford & Wedgwood U.S.A.

Long Beach, Calif. — Funosophy, a brand-building and consulting firm in the toy and children's entertainment industries, has hired Amy Williams to serve as director of marketing.

In addition to her general marketing expertise, Williams' specialties include professional copywriting and publicity services. She will be responsible for writing copy for packaging, catalogs and the Web. She also has experience in areas such as strategic publicity plans, press materials, media pitching, media follow up and tracking.

Williams most recently worked with high-end European nursery importer Mamas & Papas and, previously, with electronic smart toy manufacturer Neurosmith.

"Amy's experience in the toy industry, combined with her broad marketing skill set, make her a perfect addition to our team," said Nancy Zwiers, CEO of Funosophy. "And we're so pleased to be able to add expert copywriting and publicity to our growing list of in-house products and services."

Skaneateles, NY— HABA, the German toy and game manufacturer, has promoted Lea Culliton to vice president of sales and marketing from national sales and marketing director. The company also named Christian Vollmer, the Germany-based executive responsible for U.S. operations, executive vice president HABA USA.

In her role leading sales in the United States, Culliton has groomed a successful group of sales representatives, who have broadened the sales of the line within existing sales accounts as well as added many new ones, such as Right Start and Creative Kid Stuff.

Culliton also has added a number of important accounts for the company, some of which have been in non-traditional sales channels but have proven to be significant: Hanna Andersson, Osh Kosh B'Gosh lifestyle stores, Room & Board, One Step Ahead catalog and FAO Schwarz, which recently added a HABA boutique in its Manhattan store at the top of its escalator next to the famed floor piano keyboard.

HABA entered the U.S. market in 2003 when it introduced 500 items at the 2003 American International Toy Fair.

Los Angeles — Industry veteran Robert Sotomayor has joined the California Market Center as director of leasing, Gift and Home.

In his new role at the California Market Center, Sotomayor will oversee all leasing activities and special projects for gift and home.

His responsibilities will also include development of contemporary shows with an emphasis on categories such as jewelry, fashion accessories, toys and personal care. His primary and immediate focus will be to build and expand the permanent leasing roster at the CMC.

Sotomayor has more than 15 years experience in the gift and home accessories industry. As sales director for AMC when it managed the bi-annual California Gift Show in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sotomayor was responsible for selling temporary space at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

He later moved to the LA Mart as director for gift and home décor, where he assisted in permanent showroom leasing as well as in the launch of the buildings' Galleries, three product-specific showroom areas that featured multiple companies in a permanent facility.

Ellwood City, Pa. — Emess Design Group and Stein World have appointed John Dudash CEO of their parent company, EDG/SW Holdings LLC. Dudash will also serve as interim president of Emess Design Group during its search for a candidate to permanently fill that position.

Before joining EDG/SW Holdings, Dudash was most recently CEO and president of Atlantic Luggage. For 14 years preceding Atlantic, he held a variety of senior management positions with various divisions of Newell/Rubbermaid throughout the world.

"We are excited to welcome John to our company," said Andy Stein, president of Stein World. "We believe that his extensive background with all size customers in the retail sector make him ideally suited to lead our company."

Emess, based in Ellwood City, Pa., is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of portable and fixed wire decorative lighting under the Alsy, Cresswell, Baldwin and Norman Perry brands.

Stein World, based in Memphis, Tenn., is a designer and supplier of quality home accent and hand-painted occasional and finished accent furniture, including chests, desks, consoles, tables and mirrors.

High Point — Don Essenberg has joined Magnussen Home Furnishings as senior vice president of sales. The company said that Essenberg's hiring fits into its plan of reaching Top 10 status among furniture manufactures/importers within three years.

"We are absolutely ecstatic to have Don join the Magnussen Home team," says Richard Olmeda, Magnussen Home executive vice president. "He is a consummate professional. He loves to mentor, and he has a passion for success. There is no question he will help us reach our immediate and long-term goals."

Essenberg, who most recently was vice president of sales for Broyhill, is the third generation of his family in the furniture business and has one of the most comprehensive backgrounds in the industry. In addition to Broyhill, Essenberg has also worked for Bernhardt and Berkline.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Kmart, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., has promoted Peter Whitsett to senior vice president and Kmart merchandising officer, effective immediately.

In his new position, Whitsett oversees all merchandise categories for Kmart stores and reports directly to Aylwin Lewis, president of Sears Holdings and chief executive officer of Kmart and Sears Retail.

"Peter has a proven track record in several major product categories. In his new role he will take that experience and accelerate improvements already made to the depth and quality of Kmart's assortment," Lewis said. "Peter has built a strong team since joining the business and developed trusted relationships with our vendors. We are confident that he will be instrumental in helping to chart the course for Kmart's merchandising success."

Whitsett was previously responsible for Kmart's hardlines, food and consumables, drug store and pharmacy merchandise divisions.