Global designer of contract textiles announces appointment of new president for Camira Group, Inc in North America
Designer and manufacturer of environmental contract textiles, Camira Group, Inc, on Oct. 19 announced the appointment of a new company president to head up its group business in North America and drive the company’s next phase of growth.
New president Chris Silguero has 30 years’ experience in the contract furniture industry, in senior roles growing top and bottom lines through segment and channel development for both furniture and componentry.
Chris Silguero commented: “Camira is a fantastic business with a great value proposition, operating as both a mill and a jobber, bringing real value to our customers and innovating in ground-breaking sustainable fabrics. I’m delighted to be joining such a dynamic organisation and leading the hugely talented North American team to reach new personal and professional goals.”
Chris’s industry acumen spans roles at Trendway, Hekman Contract, and most recently the multi-million-dollar Charter Industries, where as vice president of sales, marketing and service, he led the firm’s commercial functions and increased sales by more than 20% over consecutive years. His appointment at Camira is part of the textile group’s longer-term global business development strategy, which is targeting a doubling of the group business in North America over the next five years.
Camira CEO Alan Williams added: “We’re thrilled to have Chris on board. He has proven executive leadership expertise and will be instrumental in delivering our ambitious growth plans within the hugely important North American marketplace.”
Camira Group, whose North America HQ and distribution is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a leading, international textile manufacturer and distributor, producing around 10 million yards of contract fabrics a year, which is sold in up to 80 countries worldwide. Its main markets are commercial office interiors, higher education, hospitality, and public transport, with its customer base covering furniture manufacturers, the A&D community, and end-user organisations and transit operators. The company is a vertically integrated manufacturer, from yarn spinning to weaving and dyeing, and is best known for its award-winning environmental textiles including fabrics made from hemp, flax, recycled wool and post-consumer recycled polyesters.
About Camira:
Camira is a privately-owned textile group founded in 1974 under the name Camborne Fabrics, but its heritage goes back to 1783 through various acquisitions. Until a management buy-out in 2006, the company was a subsidiary of Interface,Inc, an international manufacturer of textile modular floor coverings, for almost ten years. Today, Camira employs around 650 people, its products are sold in around 80 countries and the business produces roughly 10 million yards of fabric per year.
The company’s global headquarters and manufacturing capabilities are based in the UK, where it operates five manufacturing plants, plus one in Lithuania. Capabilities include yarn spinning, weaving, yarn and fabric dyeing, textile finishing, technical knitting, and specialist upholstery services. Camira distributes throughout North America from Grand Rapids, MI, and has global distribution from hubs in Europe and Asia Pacific.
The company is a pioneer in environmental textiles and has been producing recycled fabrics for more than 20 years, as well as innovating a new category of fabrics made from natural wool and bast fibers, such as nettle, hemp and flax.
