Couristan hires Kuehnel to western regional manager

-- Home Textiles Today, 5/13/2009 2:12:00 PM

Fort Lee, N.J. - Area and accent rug supplier Couristan has hired Andy Kuehnel as its western regional manager for the residential division.

Kuehnel began his career in the telecommunications field before transitioning into the floor covering industry in 1995 when he joined Fabrica Fine Carpet & Rugs as residential territory manager. He spent 14 years at Fabrica, and held various other senior sales positions. Most recently, he spearheaded sales efforts for the company's national and western regional accounts.

Reporting to Steve Codella, svp of sales, Kuehnel is charged with expanding the company's dealer network, enhancing brand awareness for its products, promoting dealer participation in various advertising and promotional opportunities and increasing in-store placement for Couristan's broadloom, roll runner and area rug fixtures.

He also helps devise customized product assortments that feature Couristan's many handmade and power-loomed area rugs as well as its residential broadloom collections.

He leads a team of residential territory managers located in more than 25 states.

"Andy's creative leadership skills and unique experiences as a floor covering sales executive will bring tremendous value to his new role with Couristan," Codella said. "I'm confident that with Andy as our western regional manager that Couristan will be able to fully maximize our growth opportunities while providing added support to our existing customer base."