MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT has learned that Steve Katzman resigned last month as president/CEO of Plymouth, MI-based home decor cataloger American Blind and Wallpaper Factory. According to a source who requested anonymity, one of American Blind’s larger shareholders, a large money management firm, recently became the sole owner of the company, and Katzman did not want to continue under the new owner’s regime.
On May 19, Joel Levine became American Blind’s new president/CEO. Levine describes himself as a veteran of “many different and varied businesses” throughout his career, having served as a CEO several times in the past. “Our mantra here will be to grow the company and to be more profitable,” says Levine. “We’ll do what needs to be done to reach financial goals and add products.”
Another source, also speaking on terms of anonymity, says, “This change at the top does not mean there will be companywide changes. The bottom line is that the company is under new ownership. Mr. Katzman was part of the old ownership, but the outlook is positive for the company moving forward.”
The privately held $110 million American Blind’s has approximately 100 employees and operates two large showrooms near its corporate headquarters in Plymouth, MI.
No further details are available on the company’s new ownership, and Katzman could not be reached for comment.