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TRANSCRIPT
00:22
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:29
In news out of Cantoria, Spain, Cosentino reports that it is revising its corporate structure… and making a generational change in the process. Forty-six-year-old Pilar Cosentino assumed the position of CEO of the surfaces manufacturer April 14.
Pilar Cosentino has worked for the company for more than 20 years, and her positions included leading the strategy, talent-management, digital-transformation, and technological areas. She has a law degree from the Universidad Pontifica Comillas, and an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa, along with numerous awards as an entrepreneur and executive.
She takes over the top job from 73-year-old Francisco Martinez-Cosentino, who will continue to serve as president of the company in a management structure separating the two positions.
Eduardo Cosentino, 42, will become the company’s sole executive vice president, incorporating the marketing and digital business, expansion and pricing areas, while continuing as CEO of Cosentino North America.
He also serves as board chairman of the National Kitchen and Bath Association – the NKBA – and promotes bilateral trade relations between Spain and the United States as vice president of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, Alvaro de la Haza became the chief corporation officer, reporting to the chairman in a role combined with the Family Office management.
The company is also creating a steering committee to act as a coordinating body for management, supporting the CEO in the performance of her duties. It will include the president and executive vice president, along with at least six of the company’s other vice presidents.
03:21
Nor is Cosentino the only hard surfaces manufacturer with new leadership. Neolith announced the appointment of Walter Ceglia as its new Global CEO for Neolith Group.
Ceglia brings more than 20 years of experience leading projects in international industrial environments. Most recently, he served as Executive Chairman of HMY, a Franco-Spanish company owned by LBO France, where he led a far-reaching strategic transformation.
Under his leadership, HMY evolved from a specialist in the food market to a global player in retail.
With this appointment, Neolith addresses the demands of its current stage and reaffirms its commitment to sustained growth in the sintered-stone market. Last year, it showed clear growth, particularly in key markets such as the United States, Oceania and Asia.
This year, the company aims to consolidate its expansion in those regions while accelerating its global expansion in other territories.
The group is currently preparing new showrooms in Madrid, and Auckland, New Zealand, to launch in the coming months. Neolith is also planning a major product rollout, introducing new products for architectural projects and innovative designs for kitchen countertops.
04:37
And, Surfaces Group named Klint Olsen as general manager for North America. Olsen will lead strategic growth initiatives across the region. He comes to his position from GranQuartz, where he was director of strategic sales.
Olsen brings more than 17 years of experience in the stone fabrication industry. His background spans sales strategy, account development, and operational leadership.
Pierluigi Dinelli, CEO of Surfaces Group, said the appointment marks an important step in supporting the Group’s development in North America, which is strategic for the growth of the entire organization.
“Klint developed sales strategies and programs for GranQuartz key accounts, industry buying groups, industry partners and key product lines. With his extensive experience and commercial mindset, we are confident he will make a valuable contribution to our organization,” Dinelli said.
05:34
Stone Plus Enterprises announces its expansion into engineered quartz surfaces in a strategic partnership with Raj Kesari Rocks.
For more than 30 years, the Raj Kesari Group built a reputation in mining marble and granite for export. The company has also ventured into engineered quartz manufacturing with the QROCKS brand.
The partnership assures Stone Plus customers of a product made with state-of-the-art equipment, offering fast delivery and a vast range of colors, designs and textures, according to Prasan Shah, CEO of StonePlus.
“Our partnership with QROCKS ensures that we will provide an exceptional range of quartz slabs, featuring exotic designs like Calacattas and Carraras, as well as a selection of classic options,” said Shah.
Pratap Darda, owner of Raj Kersari Rocks, said his company is thrilled to add Stone Plus’s clientele to its list of customers.
06:35
Coverings has announced the names of 20 people being honored this year through the trade show’s Rock Star Awards and the inaugural class of Coverings Champions. The show will be held in Orlando, Fla., next week, at the Orange County Convention Center.
The Coverings Rock Stars is an emerging-leaders program celebrating its 11th class this year. The program underscores Coverings’ mission to support the growth and success of the industry.
A committee of longstanding tile and stone industry professionals evaluated this year’s nominees to choose this year’s 16 inductees. From the stone side of the industry, they include:
*Sal Azzolino, owner of Ago Tile and Stone in San Francisco;
*Ben Mestek, managing partner of Pacific Stone Creations, Menifee, Calif.;
*Joseph Ontra, production manager and vice president, Ontra Stone, Fairfield, Conn. and;
*Travis McDermott, president of McDermott Top Shop LLC, Jefferson, Wis..
Coverings Champions is a new accolade recognizing distinguished industry leaders for their extraordinary contributions to the expansion and continued achievement of the event. They include:
*Tony Malisani, president of Malisani Inc., Great Falls, Mont.
Both groups will be recognized during the Rock Stars & Coverings Champions Awards Ceremony at booth 4300 on April 29 at 4 p.m. All Coverings attendees are invited to attend.
For more information and to register to attend Coverings 2025, go to www.coverings.com.
08:11
Also, when Coverings 2025 opens its doors, 57 companies will be present in the Brazilian Pavilion, reaffirming the country’s position as a leading supplier of natural stone to the United States.
The Brazilian Pavilion will feature companies from six different states in the north side of Hall A. Presented by the It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone project, which was developed by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), the pavilion reflects the elegance of Brazilian materials.
This year’s pavilion will feature hanging gardens on the central frontage to add freshness to the ambiance. The space itself will highlight the colors, textures and shapes of natural stone. The space was designed by architect Romulo Pegoretti.
Last year, Brazil exported $1.26 billion in natural stone to 125 different countries, registering an increase of 12.7%. The main importing market for Brazilian stone is the United States, which accounted for 56.3% of exports, an increase of almost 17% from 2023.
Centrorochas President Tales Machado says those numbers underline the strategic importance of the business relationship between the two countries.
Representatives of the companies exhibiting in the pavilion and Brazilian and foreign authorities will conduct an opening ceremony at noon at the Brazilian Pavilion on April 29.
“The building of this collective space allows us to present, in a strategic and organized way, Brazil’s potential as a reliable and competitive supplier of natural stones to the U.S. market,” says Thiago Fukuda, the manager of It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone.
It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone currently supports 226 companies and aims to encourage and increase exports of Brazilian natural stone. Coverings 2025 runs from April 29-May 2.
10:13
And, in news out of London, Media 10 has acquired The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces from The QMJ Group. The May 2025 show – which is co-located with UK Construction Week London – will be the final one under the Stone Show name.
Next year, the show will be relaunched under the name of Stone & Surfaces and go from being held every two years to an annual event. The show’s scope will also expand to include not only natural stone and hard surfaces, but also flooring, wall coverings, and an even wider range of materials and surface innovations.
Media 10 is also planning to build Stone & Surfaces into an international showcase. The company already has commitments from companies from Italy, Iran, India, Turkey, China, Portugal and Egypt.
The reimagined show will also include live demonstrations of stone-masonry, artisanal techniques, advanced machinery, and a new accredited education program and interactive zones with real-world applications.
Sam Patel, director of global markets at Media 10 says, “Stone & Surfaces will build on its rich heritage while embracing new materials, new ideas and a broader global audience. It’s a natural next step for Media 10 – and for the industry.”
11:38
Remember, the March/April edition of Stone Update Magazine is now available at www.stonemag.com. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update, and we’ll see you here again soon.
