TORRANCE, Calif., Mar. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Etac Group (Etac), a Sweden-based corporation, which recently acquired Convaid Products, Inc. (Convaid), today announced the appointment of Chris Braun as its president for North America and a new sales organization.
Convaid is today a part of Etac's Product Business Unit, Pediatrics headed by Jan Ellegaard, who also serves as CEO of R82 A/S, Etac's Denmark-based world leading supplier of high quality pediatric products. The Etac North American sales organization reports to Torben Helbo, CEO of the Etac Group.
Braun, Convaid's president since 2008, takes on an expanded role where he will provide leadership for all of Etac's brands in North America, including R82, Etac, Molift, Immedia and Convaid. Braun also remains Convaid's president.
Convaid is a Torrance-based manufacturer of custom lightweight, compact-folding, adaptive-assisted wheelchairs that enjoyed substantial growth under his leadership that ultimately led to the successful acquisition of Convaid by Etac in December 2015.
Etac develops and manufactures a wide range of solutions for children and adults with manual wheelchairs, advanced seating, patient handling and bathing and toilet under the brands R82, Etac, Molift, Immedia, and now Convaid. It operates sales companies in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States with an extensive network of distributors in 40 other markets around the world.
Braun's first order of business as president of Etac NA was the formation of a new sales organization and the appointment of three seasoned sales managers to run them.
Sales for the expanded pediatric channel, now comprised of both Convaid and R82 products, will be jointly managed by Derek Fletcher, formerly R82's East Coast Sales Manager, who will manage sales in the Eastern United States; and Charles Larose, formerly Convaid's North American Business Development Manager, who will manage the Western United States and Canada.
Scott Crosswhite, who served as Vice President for R82, has been appointed as the new manager of the adult distribution channel, which handles products from Etac, Molift, and Immedia. Crosswhite had been instrumental in developing the transfer and patient handling and pediatric business at R82.
Nanneke Dinklo, who previously served as Convaid's Director, Global Marketing & Business Development for four years, takes on an expanded role in marketing leadership and channel strategy of all Etac brands in North America.
"I am very fortunate to have been able to assemble such an exemplary sales and leadership team, drawing on human resources from each organization. I am confident that this new structure will bring value to our combined customers and end-users." Braun said.
"Our goal remains and is restated, to become the premium pediatric company of choice, which is now more quickly achievable through this new organization and expanded team. At the same time we organize Etac to keep the strong growth momentum we have in our Transfer, Toilet and Bath Solutions in North America" says Helbo.
Any questions may be directed to one of the following:
Torben Helbo
CEO, Etac AB
Telephone +4540724880
Jan Ellegaard
PBU Manager and CEO, R82
Telephone +45 28358066
Chris Braun
President, Etac NA
Telephone +1 310 618 0111
Media Contact:Milena Rimassa, Convaid Products, Inc., 310-618-0111, milena@convaid.com
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SOURCE Convaid Products, Inc.
