NEW CASTLE, Del. — Speakman, the maker of high-performance showerheads and plumbing fittings, announced that Robert Knoll has been elected as CEO following his three-month tenure as Interim CEO. Knoll, who has served as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Speakman since 2011, will maintain a dual role as CEO and COO.
Company officials said Knoll’s in-depth understanding of Speakman’s manufacturing, sales, financial, and marketing operations has informed his leadership of the company since he took the reins as interim CEO in September. He is now formally tasked with ushering Speakman into a new era of steady and surefooted growth.
As the first brand to ever create and install a shower in a U.S. hotel in the 1870s, Speakman has a deep heritage in the hospitality industry. Since its founding, the company has established itself as the gold standard in hospitality shower design while growing into the direct-to-consumer market via e-commerce. With a dual focus on hospitality and home, Knoll will continue to guide Speakman’s strategy to extend its hospitality footprint while expanding its penetration of the consumer market—including the introduction of new products, design partnerships, and compelling marketing campaigns.
Knoll will report to the Speakman board and will be responsible for day-to-day corporate management, strategic growth planning, and brand stewardship as the company continues to deliver on its promise to offer high-performance products through its commercial, emergency, hospitality, and home businesses.
“From the moment Bob stepped into the role of interim CEO in September, we have been impressed by his clear-headed, steady-handed approach to day-to-day management, coupled with a strong sense of strategic vision,” said Speakman Board Chairman Rod Ward. “We are pleased to support him in his new role during this exciting time of growth for the company.”
Prior to joining Speakman, Bob Knoll served as president and COO of the Easthill Company, a domestic and international third party fulfillment and logistics company. Before that, Knoll was vice president of operations for the Franklin Mint direct-marketing company, where he held increasingly senior positions for more than 30 years.
