MATTRESS INDUSTRY NEWS RELEASE
News release written by Spring Air International and published, unedited, by BedTimes
Rick Robinson
BOSTON, Dec. 21, 2016 — Rick Robinson, president of Spring Air International and an industry veteran of more than 30 years, passed away unexpectedly early this week, the bedding producer has reported.
Mr. Robinson, 60, was recruited by Spring Air CEO Ed Bates in 2009 to lead efforts to re-establish the 90-year-old brand after Bates re-acquired the venerable name and all associated intellectual property, and re-organized the company under a new corporate entity.
“Because of his leadership abilities and his many innovative insights and ideas, Rick was my first choice to head the new Spring Air enterprise,” noted Bates.
“Not only did Rick have an extremely broad skill set, but he was also the kind of person whose energy and optimism could be felt as soon as he entered a room.
“He was a unique individual in our industry and our company,” Bates said. “He will be greatly missed.”
In the interim, the company said, Nick Bates will retain his title as Spring Air vice president but will take on Mr. Robinson’s responsibilities.
Before joining Spring Air, Mr. Robinson had served as chief marketing officer for A.H. Beard since 2007. A.H. Beard is a longstanding Australian-based mattress producer of multiple bedding brands.
Before that, Mr. Robinson was the senior vice president of marketing for Consolidated Bedding—the former Spring Air corporate entity, during the years 2005-06. For eight years prior to that, he was president and COO of Nature’s Rest Marketing LLC, which was later sold to Consolidated Bedding.
Mr. Robinson’s earliest years in the industry, from 1982 to 1996, were spent in senior corporate sales and marketing posts with both Restonic and Serta.
More information on Mr. Robinson’s passing, including reactions from industry members and friends, will be released as it becomes available.
Contact:
Susan Ebaugh
Lilly Management Group
630-377-2424
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