Polyconcept, the leading global promotional products company and parent of Polyconcept North America, announced the hiring of two key senior management members to its executive team. Willem van Walt Meijer joins Polyconcept to lead the newly-created Polyconcept International Markets Division, while Marc L. Brown assumes the role of the company’s interim global chief information officer.
Both van Walt Meijer and Brown join as members of the company’s senior executive leadership team. Van Walt Meijer assumes the role of managing director of Polyconcept International Markets and will be operating from the Polyconcept office in Hong Kong. This newly-created division of Polyconcept aims to build relationships with suppliers and stock keepers in markets outside of North America and Europe. While Polyconcept has successfully established business in several markets through its PF Concept group, the creation of a new stand-alone division recognizes the strategic importance of new markets to Polyconcept’s long-term growth.
Prior to joining Polyconcept, van Walt Meijer served as CEO of industry supplier Mid Ocean Brands and earlier in his career was responsible for opening and building new businesses on the ground for the multinational consumer good leader, Unilever. “I am extremely excited to take on this new role within Polyconcept,” van Walt Meijer said. “Between my industry experience and prior history of opening new markets, I feel that this position is a perfect fit for both me and the company.”
Michael Bernstein, Polyconcept chairman and CEO, said, “I’m honored to have Willem join the company as he is a real professional and fits well with our team and culture. At the same time I want to recognize Richard Lariby, who will take on the senior sales responsibility for the new division, as he’s successfully pioneered this opportunity for the group.”
Brown is joining Polyconcept following a successful career as chief information officer for both Heinz North America and Del Monte Foods. He will be responsible for ensuring that Polyconcept’s global IT platform supports the long-term strategic initiatives being implemented by the senior leadership team, and will be based out of the New Kensington, Pa. headquarters of Polyconcept. “I’ve worked with the Polyconcept North America team for several years as a member of their Advisory Board so I’m quite familiar with the challenges within the promotional industry,” Brown said. “I’m impressed by the team at Polyconcept, and their long-term strategic vision has led me to take on this role.”
Bernstein added, “We’re very lucky to have someone of Marc’s caliber join our team. Marc is unique in that he brings a perfect combination of business understanding along with global IT solution experience that will be critical to our longer term success.”
