North America business realigns to enable focus, speed
Hallmark Cards, Inc., today announced the creation of three new, distinct businesses from its former North America organization. The three businesses - Hallmark Greetings, Hallmark Home and Gifts and Hallmark Retail - will join Crayola, Crown Media, Crown Center and Hallmark International as part of the company's diversified portfolio of independently operated businesses.
In conjunction with this move, Don J. Hall, Jr., will remain board vice chairman and CEO of the enterprise. David Hall, president - Hallmark North America, has been promoted to president of the corporation and will join Don in leading the entire portfolio of businesses. Donald J. Hall continues to serve as board chairman.
"For 50 years, we have viewed the most important parts of our enterprise as one big organization – Hallmark North America," said Don Hall, Jr. "But to enable focus, speed, accountability, decisiveness and greater impact in the marketplace, we must think of ourselves as distinct businesses. By doing so, we are enabling each business to focus precisely on what is needed to make their particular business succeed and be more competitive in the future."
Each of the new businesses will be led by a president with oversight and accountability for all aspects of that business. The businesses will operate independently of one another so each can make more focused and faster decisions based on their unique set of customers, consumers and marketplace demands, Hall added.
Mike Perry, president and CEO of Crayola, has been named president – Hallmark Greetings. Prior to joining Crayola in 2009, Perry served in a variety of leadership positions within Hallmark's core business units, customer management teams and new business development initiatives.
Keith Kotel, vice president and general manager of gift solutions, has been named president – Hallmark Home and Gifts. Kotel is the former president for the LaJobi children's furniture division of Kids Brands and also served as vice president at specialty retailer Jo-Ann Stores. He joined Hallmark in 2014.
John X. Watson will continue to serve as president – Hallmark Retail. Watson joined Hallmark in April 2014 and was previously chairman and CEO of specialty golf retailer Edwin Watts Golf. He also served as president and CEO of Sunglass Hut and as executive vice president and COO at HSN (formerly Home Shopping Network).
Other business leaders continuing in their current roles are:
Bill Abbott, president and CEO – Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Bill Lucas, president – Crown Center Redevelopment Corp.
Steven Wright and Homer Kay, co-presidents – Hallmark International.
A new president and CEO of Crayola will be named in the near future.
"All of the businesses that comprise the Hallmark enterprise today contribute a meaningful level of revenue and earnings for the company," said Hall. "The balance of our total portfolio, the opportunities that lie within each of them, and the power of the Hallmark and Crayola brands, keep me excited and optimistic about our future."
www.hallmark.com