Balta Group Selects Noten as CEO

-- Home Textiles Today, 2/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

Dalton, Ga. —

Balta US’s parent company, longtime Belgian soft flooring company Balta Group, has appointed Jules Noten to ceo.

He replaces Marcus Billman, who is relocating to the United Kingdom to pursue other business opportunities.

Noten, a Belgian national, was formerly ceo of Partners in Lighting International (PLI), where he worked since 2003. He is credited with transforming PLI, which launched as a regionally focused family company, into a large international business operating in 24 countries across Europe and employing 5,000 people.

Prior to joining PLI (formerly known as Massive Lighting Products), Noten spent 18 years with Unilever, including a stint as chairman of Unilever Bestfoods and president of Unilever Belgium.

“Jules Noten brings significant additional operational experience to the business and will be instrumental in supporting the next phase of Balta’s development as the company looks to further consolidate its position as the clear European market leader,” said Julian Huxtable, a senior principal of Balta Group.