Valerie Stranix Tony LaMantia
Madrid-based The Flex Group, owner of E.S. Kluft & Co. and Marshall Mattress, has integrated operations and services of the two luxury mattress makers, and named Valerie Stranix product director of North America. Stranix is now responsible for new product development for the Aireloom, Kluft and Marshall brands. She reports to Magali Castillo, vice president of marketing with E.S. Kluft, which has headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
All Marshall manufacturing is moving from Canada to the United States at the E.S. Kluft Hazleton, Pennsylvania, factory, where production already is underway. The Marshall sales office in Toronto remains open under the supervision of Tony LaMantia, the new vice president of sales for Canada, reporting to Jon Stowe, managing director of E.S. Kluft. In addition, the Toronto facility continues to be used to warehouse and ship products to Canadian customers,
LaMantia joins the company from Kingsdown in Canada, where he held a senior sales role. Prior to that, he was with Simmons Canada.
Stranix, a 24-year bedding industry veteran, joined The Flex Group four years ago, most recently serving as general manager of Marshall Mattress and prior to that as sales director for the group’s luxury brands. Before joining The Flex Group, she worked in a number of executive roles with brands such as Spring Air Canada and Natura/Sommex.
“We are committed to providing best-in-class service and quality products to all our customers,” Stowe said. “Integrating these two luxury mattress powerhouses into one organization creates even more opportunities to develop the Aireloom, Kluft and Marshall brands throughout North America.”
