Following a search that spanned several months, Simon Pearce has appointed Clayton Adams as the new Chief Executive Officer of its multifaceted design and lifestyle company. From the corporate headquarters in Windsor, Vermont, Adams will oversee the operations and strategic development of the organization’s entire portfolio, which includes seven retail stores, a nationwide network of more than 500 wholesale partners, a robust catalog and e-commerce business, a fine dining restaurant, and The Mill at Quechee, which is one of the most-visited attractions in the state of Vermont and draws more than 300,000 visitors each year.
Clay Adams, right, with Mara Rivera, accepts the 2012 Best Places to Work Award from, left to right, Betsy Bishop of the Vermont Chamber, Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott and Vermont Business Magazine Publisher John Boutin.
Adams joins Simon Pearce following a decade-long tenure with Vermont-based Resource Systems Group (RSG), where he recently led the company as CEO and orchestrated the achievement of numerous corporate milestones. While Adams was a chief executive of RSG, the company was named to the coveted Best Places to Work in VT list for seven consecutive years (2006 ‘2012), which is a strong reflection on Adams’leadership expertise at successfully balancing needs of people, planet, and profit.
With this new appointment, company founder Simon Pearce will transition into an advisory resource, with a key role on the Board of Directors and integral involvement in the creative, design, and production initiatives. Adams will report to the Board of Directors, and will lead the company’s executive committee in guiding the daily business activities.
Says Pearce, ‘Clay brings a well-rounded portfolio of leadership skills to our team, and the ideal blend of both local and global perspectives. His intimate knowledge of the Upper Valley community, coupled with his experience nurturing the successful growth of Fortune 500 companies, makes him well-suited to address the needs of both our staff and our customers.’
With a degree from Dartmouth College, an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth, and specialized coursework at Harvard Business School Executive Education, Adams is no stranger to the study of excellence. He also serves on the Boards of Directors for the Mascoma Savings Bank, the Delta Dental Plan (current Board Chair) and Vital Communities (former Board Chair).
Says Adams of his new role at Simon Pearce, ‘It’s an honor to join the team at Simon Pearce, a brand long admired for its commitment to craftsmanship and artistry. I share the company’s passion for quality, and am excited to collaborate with all our employees on new growth opportunities for the brand.’
About Simon Pearce:
Simon Pearce designs, manufactures and markets original products in hand blown glass and handmade pottery and operates a fine dining establishment. Simon Pearce has maintained a dedication to creating products that are beautifully designed, produced with premium quality materials and time-honored techniques and intended for a lifetime of everyday use. Founded in 1971, Simon Pearce originated as a small glassblowing workshop in Kilkenny, Ireland. In 1981, the company moved to a historic woolen mill on the banks of the Ottauquechee River in Quechee, Vermont. Today, Quechee remains the flagship for Simon Pearce’s retail, restaurant and production activities. The full range of glass and pottery designs embodies traditional and contemporary styles’all with classic simplicity, elegance and everyday functionality. The line is available at 7 Simon Pearce retail stores, through a nationwide network of over 500 wholesale partners, via mail-order catalog and online at SimonPearce.com. Visit the brand’s highly active social media channels, www.facebook.com/Simon.Pearce.Glass and @SimonPearceInc on Twitter.
Windsor, VT (August 2012)