Royal Doulton CEO Resigns
By Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 5/2/2008 11:40:00 AM
New York — Wayne Nutbeen stepped down as chief executive of tabletop vendor Royal Doulton, headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, to pursue other business interests. It was on Nutbeen’s watch that Royal Doulton was acquired by Waterford Wedgwood in 2005. The associated layoffs, factory closings and move to overseas production produced some resentment in North Staffordshire, according to an article in The Sentinel, a U.K-based newspaper.Nutbeen’s resignation came just weeks after Peter Cameron retired as chief executive of Waterford-Wedgwood itself, also to pursue his own business interests, according to the Irish Independent. David Sculley, one of the company’s directors, will fill in for Cameron on an interim basis. Nutbeen’s post, however, has already been filled: Waterford Wedgwood promoted Moira Gavin to president and chief executive of its Royal Doulton unit. She assumes responsibility for global design, marketing and selling.
If this change was already in the works last month, it didn’t seem to affect the company’s US subsidiary’s presence at New York’s Tabletop Market — or its reception. The Royal Doulton showroom in 41 Madison was busy, with no complaints coming from company representatives. The company continued to build its product selection with many new introductions, as well as celebrating the 100th anniversary of Royal Albert and its top-selling pattern, Old Country Roses. Royal Doulton is also expanding on the success of its new dinnerware collections from bridal gown designer Monique Lhuillier (launched at the October 2007 show). Things also appeared to be going smoothly for the brand at February's Ambiente fair in Frankfurt, Germany.
Though many large gift and accent companies, on both the wholesale and retail sides, have seen upheavals and restructuring in recent months, the tabletop market as a whole is holding steady despite recent changes in the bridal market: with formal entertaining, for the most part, a thing of the past, manufacturers have had to rethink their product lines.
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