Robert A. Rae, president of Meyer Corp., has retired after 27 years of service, and the housewares company has named Mitchell Loring to succeed him.
Prior to his appointment, Loring was executive vice president of sourced products. In addition, Phil Barberi has been promoted to vice president of product development.
Rae’s career spanned 50 years in home furnishings, primarily in housewares. Prior to joining Meyer, Rae spent 20 years in department store retailing with buying positions at May Co. and Macy’s California. He was promoted to DMM of Macy’s West Cellar and then became head of housewares product development for Federated Department Stores, New York. Federated gave Rae a release on a line of cookware he had developed, and he and another partner formed a cookware company, Cuisine-Ware. The new company marketed cookware to department stores in the United States and Canada.
In 1986, Rae formed a partnership with Stanley Cheng, founder, chairman and CEO of Meyer Corp., creating a new cookware company, Le Cook’s-ware. Its first product was Circulon, followed by Anolon two years later. Eventually, Le Cook’s-ware merged with Meyer Corp., and Rae oversaw product design and development for all brands within Meyer’s portfolio.
Rae worked closely with Cheng in building what was to become the second-largest cookware company in the world. In 1996, Rae moved back to California as president of Meyer Corp. Under the leadership of Cheng and Rae, along with a skilled management team, Meyer Corp. became the largest cookware company in America. In his 27-year career at Meyer, Rae was awarded more than 50 design patents.
“All of us are extremely proud of Bob’s immeasurable contributions and accomplishments during his career at Meyer, and without question he will be missed greatly, not only by everyone here, but also within the wider housewares industry,” said Cheng. “It’s been a genuine honor and pleasure to have befriended and worked alongside Bob for more than 27 years, and we wish him and his wife, Doralee, all the very best in the next junction of their life together.”
Loring takes the helm immediately as president to lead Meyer’s corporate and product strategies, and his direct reports include the managing director, Jay Zilinskas, and the vice president of product development, Phil Barberi. Loring reports to Cheng.
Loring has held numerous managerial and senior leadership positions, including national sales manager, vice president of sales, and senior vice president of sourced products.
“Mitchell’s deep level of experience in all facets of our business, and proven track record in helping our company become one of today’s most prominent housewares companies in America, have singularly prepared him to help me in leading Meyer to its next successful chapter,” said Cheng. “Mitchell’s decisive leadership style and vision for innovation will be instrumental in navigating our company through an ever-evolving and fast-paced housewares industry.”
