SOMERVILLE, N.J.—Marcolin USA-Viva today have announced management and organization changes with “a purpose to accelerate growth and strengthen premium customer experiences across the new global portfolio,” the company said. Following a successful merger of Marcolin USA and Viva International, VMail first reported on the company’s management plans in an exclusive interview on Dec. 16.

"We are evolving our new organization to enhance our brand focus across the Marcolin-Viva integration,” said Fabrizio Gamberini, CEO of Marcolin USA-Viva. “We are creating an organization that will be more focused on the different aspects of our business model. Marketing, product and sales leadership will drive the vision, strategy and concept development. They will be responsible for leading the development of the entire experience for each segment around the Americas.

“These new leadership roles will help strengthen and streamline how we operate and also support an important evolution in how we align talent and resources to better connect with customers today and in the future,” he continued. “We will create premium customer experiences that will give us and our clients a competitive advantage; this new model will ensure we stay focused on the product and drive a brand point-of-view through the business.”

As a result, the following leadership changes will take place effective immediately:

Sal Rianna, currently Viva’s CFO, will become Marcolin USA-Viva’s optical channel president, responsible for the optical channel and an integrated trend sales force of more than 170 people made up of Marcolin and Viva sales reps. He will temporarily retain responsibilities for the finance organization but eventually be replaced as CFO, the company told VMail. Rianna, in his new role, will be supported by two optical channel veterans; Kelly O’Grady, now assuming the role of vice president for trend Western U.S.A., and Bob Dunn, now assuming the role of vice president for trend Eastern U.S.A. Both O’Grady and Dunn are uniquely qualified to lead the effort supporting Rianna’s effort, as they have done successfully in the past, according to the company.

Ben Wolf, vice president fashion, will continue his efforts in creating strong business with the international global brands of the company.

Jennifer Orentas is moving into the role of Marcolin USA-Viva senior vice president global merchandising and will have product development responsibility for all regions of Marcolin USA-Viva. Orentas will be supported by Nora Cabrera, regional vice president.

Candy Urbanski has been promoted to Marcolin USA–Viva’s vice president of marketing and will work closely with all segments to accelerate the ability to manage a strong brand execution around the Americas and also globally.

Tom Seltzer will continue to lead all non-optical retail efforts as Marcolin USA-Viva retail vice president across all brand categories. Seltzer will also continue to oversee the growth of Marcolin USA-Viva’s off price retail business. Working with Seltzer now is Barry Jones, who is returning to retail as western area manager, and Marc Mischik, who will also join Seltzer’s organization as senior account executive.

Eric Allred will become Marcolin USA- Viva Latin America senior director. His new expanded team will include the Viva Group. Allred will have the challenge of defining the attack configuration for the largest growing region in the business, the company said.

Dan Blessing will continue to head up the key account business, together with Tom Albertini and Dawn Fischer.

As part of the ongoing reorganization, Marcolin USA-Viva thanked both, Timothy Parker, vice president of merchandising domestic brands, and Jan Cory, senior vice president U.S. domestic sales and Canada, for their contributions. Both are leaving the company to pursue new opportunities, the company said.