South Bay International has named Toby Konetzny as chief executive officer. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the company on Nov. 1. Meanwhile, Dani Serven will step down from her role as chief executive officer, but she will continue to serve as a managing member of the board of directors.
Serven has led South Bay through a strong growth phase for the past eight years, including moving to a new 210,000-square-foot facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California (the company is owned by Keeson Technology Corp. in Jiaxing, China). Serven also navigated South Bay’s shift from an importer of mattresses to a vertically integrated manufacturer in 2019.
“After 15 years, with eight years as CEO, I am happy to step aside as the next chapter of SBI unfolds, and I take on a new role on the board of directors,” Serven said. “I have always believed in careful long-term planning and the execution of those plans. So, it is very gratifying to see our planning for the future of SBI come together.
“I am excited to see Toby step into the CEO position for SBI,” she continued. “With over two decades of experience in the furniture industry and the last five years as an integral part of South Bay’s growth, he is well prepared to step seamlessly into this role. I am so grateful for the support of so many over the years, especially the SBI team and the board of directors. South Bay is very well positioned for continued growth.”
Konetzny has served as South Bay’s senior vice president of business development since he joined the company in January 2018. Before joining South Bay, Konetzny spent 17 years at Coaster Company of America in various leadership roles, including vice president of marketing. Beyond his marketing role, he managed Coaster’s e-commerce sales channel; served as a category product manager for home office and accents for five years; and worked at the startup e-commerce direct-to-consumer division of Coaster.
“I know that I speak for everyone at South Bay International in thanking Dani for her leadership and dedication to the company,” Konetzny said. “I am incredibly excited to assume this new role and for what the future holds for the company.
“It is a privilege to be part of an organization that delivers high-quality products and innovative solutions for our customers,” he continued. “We have a talented team that is focused on taking decisive actions to transform the business, continuing to innovate our product in new and diverse ways, and unlocking future growth opportunities.
