Teka's family aside, Lore in as ceo

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/23/2003 12:00:00 AM

BLUMENAU, BRAZIL —

Family-run textiles manufacturer Teka has brought in an outsider to steer the firm for the first time in the company's 77-year history.

Arnim Lore assumes the title of ceo. He has held executive positions at unibanco, Petrobras, the Central Bank of Brazil, Villares and Varig.

Although members of the founding Kuehnrich family are giving up executive control, they will take on a more active role on the board of shareholders, according to a company announcement. The board also is being reorganized and will have a more prominent role in defining policy and strategy.

Joining the board is Clovis Carvalho, advisor to Brazil's former president and minister of economic development.

Company principals Rolf Keuhnrich and Frederico Kuehnrich Neto, who are removing themselves from day-to-day operations, will take active roles on the board along with Nelson Barriszelli, Antonio Carlos Romanoski and Jose Valdir Rieiro dos Reis.

In 1947, the company installed its own spinning process, making it self-sufficient in cotton thread and enabling it to diversify its product line: apron fabrics, tablecloths, curtains and tea towels. In the early '70s, to conquer the overseas market, big investments were made in technology while administration was restructured and the factory modernized. Then, in 1972, the name of the company was changed to TEKA — Tecelagem Kuehnrich S.A.