Mar 19, 2012

Scott Eckman Named Chief Marketing/Strategy Officer of International Market Centers

International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premium home furnishings, gift and home décor showroom and exhibition space, announced that Scott Eckman has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer/Chief Strategy Officer (CMO/CSO).

In the newly created position of CMO/CSO, Eckman will be responsible for defining and driving all strategic, corporate development and marketing activities across the IMC organization. For the last five years, Eckman has served in a senior leadership capacity with GMAC Insurance Holdings, based in Winton-Salem, N.C.

“We are very excited to have someone of Scott’s professionalism, leadership and critical thinking capabilities heading the strategy and marketing efforts for the newly formed organization of IMC. He brings significant experience and proven success in leading corporate development activities, managing the analysis process for acquisitions, and designing and executing marketing initiatives,” said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers.

Maricich added, “We have exceptional marketing talent and professionals in both High Point and Las Vegas with deep industry experience and notable successes building our markets and properties. Under Scott’s leadership, we can continue to expand our teams’ breadth and effectiveness as we harness the value proposition of our new corporate portfolio.”

Eckman reports to Maricich and will be based in High Point, NC. Reporting up to Eckman is Dana Andrew, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations (based in Las Vegas) and Karen Olson, Vice President of Marketing (based in High Point) and their respective marketing teams. Eckman will also work closely to support the leasing efforts of the President of Furniture, Tom Mitchell, and the newly appointed President of Gift, Dorothy Belshaw.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the talented team that Bob has assembled. As a marketer, I am eager to have the opportunity to help identify and create real value that is created by bringing together the Las Vegas and High Point operations under one umbrella,” stated Eckman.

Most recently, Eckman served as the Chief Marketing Officer and on the Executive Management Committee of GMAC Insurance Holdings, a $1.2 billion in personal lines insurance operation. In his capacity, he was responsible for the sales and marketing activities of their Affinity Business, as well as all corporate marketing efforts and strategy efforts. Additionally, he was responsible for a 100+ person inbound sales call center. Prior to holding this position, Eckman served as a Senior Vice President and General Manager of GMAC’s Agency Division where he was responsible for profit and loss of $600 million in auto insurance premiums sold through a network of over 10,000 independent insurance agents.

Prior to GMAC, Eckman was General Manager/Senior Director of Georgia-Pacific’s North American Commercial Wiper Business with full P&L responsibility. Before that, he worked for three years as management consultant and then Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group where he specialized in consumer goods with functional focus in sales and marketing.

Raised in Baton Rouge, La., Scott received his undergraduate from Louisiana State University, an MS in experimental psychology from the College of William & Mary, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He taught research methods and statistics to undergraduates for four semesters while a teaching assistant at William & Mary.

A high resolution photograph of Eckman is available on the IMC website (imcenters.com). International Market Center’s portfolio consists of 11.5 million square feet in 18 showroom venues in High Point N.C. and Las Vegas. Through a series of transactions announced in May of 2011, all assets in the portfolio have been recapitalized with significant equity investments, providing for long-term stability and creating a growth platform for the industry.

International Market Centers owns and operates the following facilities:
Building A, World Mark et Center Las Vegas
Building B, World Market Center Las Vegas
Building C, World Market Center Las Vegas
World Pavilions, World Market Center Las Vegas
International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC), High Point (comprised of the Hamilton, Green, Commerce, Wrenn, Design Center and Main Wings)
Historic Market Square, High Point
Market Square Tower, High Point
Suites at Market Square, High Point
Plaza Suites, High Point
Furniture Plaza, High Point
National Furniture Mart, High Point
Hamilton Market, High Point
300 South Main, High Point
Showplace, High Point
Showplace West, High Point
200 N. Hamilton, High Point
320 N. Hamilton, High Point
330 N. Hamilton, High Point 

About International Market Centers, L.P.
International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC) is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. IMC owns and operate 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. In addition, IMC operates the Las Vegas Design Center, a year-round resource open to both the design trade and consumers which is comprised of more than 40 showrooms and hundreds of designer brands. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit imcenters.com.