He brings expertise in leading strategic global accounts and knowledge of the Chicago marketplace.
Ryan Esche joins Henricksen as Director of Business Development. Ryan will provide leadership in planning, strategy, and brand innovation initiatives for Henricksen nationally and will support business development activities in the Chicagoland area.
With nearly two decades in the furniture and commercial real estate industries, Ryan Esche understands the overlapping drivers that influence today’s contract furniture market – from business priorities and workplace strategy to product development, design, and service models. “As Director of Business Development, I’m thrilled to help Henricksen grow its brand and ensure its place as the leading contract furniture dealer in the United States – not just in sales volume, but as an industry innovator.” Esche added “Trust, communication, and integrity have been the cornerstone of Henricksen’s relationships for 50 years – whether those relationships are between employees, clients, manufacturers, or service partners. They are passionate and entrepreneurial group who care for each other as family which I find inspiring.”
Ryan joins Henricksen from HNI where he served as Vice President and General Manager of HNI ONE – a group dedicated to harnessing the breadth and depth of HNI’s global family of brands (including Allsteel, Gunlocke, HBF, and The HON Company) for strategic accounts. Under Ryan Esche’s leadership, HNI ONE honed how it sought out and serviced global accounts for Fortune 500 companies, which resulted in 15% top line growth in less than 18 months. Prior to HNI ONE, Ryan worked for Allsteel as Director of Product Development (Seating), Midwest Region Manager, and Business Development Manager; Knoll as a Sales Representative; and Grubb & Ellis as a Senior Associate in the Tenant Representation Group.
Mike Assell, President of Henricksen, said “Ryan Esche has been described a dynamic, energetic, ethical person who is a great relationship builder, brand ambassador, and strategic thinker, but at the end of the day, Ryan is a good business man.” Assell added “Ryan’s experiences in developing strategic account programs on a global scale for HNI and in new product development at Allsteel are particularly exciting for Henricksen as we continue to grow our business. His presence will help Henricksen and our partners understand, leverage, and support each other’s initiatives better as well as deliver improved solutions and experiences to our customers.”
Ryan Esche received an MBA from the University of Iowa’s Henry B Tippie College of Business and a BA in Business from Calvin College. Ryan has supported various charitable organization over the years including Memory Rock, March of Dimes, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Katie Arthur Esche, and Brinkley their dog.
About Henricksen
Henricksen is a full-service contract furniture dealership specializing in office, healthcare, education, government, senior living, and hospitality spaces. In 1962, Henricksen opened its doors as a small, family-run dealership. Today, Henricksen is a leading national dealership with seven offices, 245 full-time employees, and annual sales topping $245 million. With 200+ manufacturer partnerships, Henricksen’s offers an array of products from systems furniture, casegoods, seating, lounge, and conference furnishings to architectural solutions including modular walls, flooring, lighting, sound masking, and technology equipment. Henricksen is one of the largest privately-owned dealer partners of HNI in the United States. HNI’s furniture brands include Allsteel, HBF, The HON Company, and Gunlocke. www.henricksen.com