On The Move April 2026: Design Hires And Promotions
Design professionals are on the move! Explore the latest industry hires and promotions, from a new studio formed by Scott Miller, former global director of AvroKo, to leadership appointments at major firms like Perkins&Will, and more.
Explore The Latest Design Hires and Promotions
Perennials and Sutherland
Rob Perri has been appointed chief executive officer of Perennials and Sutherland, the Dallas-based luxury outdoor furnishings and performance textiles company. Perri brings over two decades of experience leading design-driven product companies, most recently as group president of brand companies at Armstrong World Industries, where he oversaw a portfolio of architectural product brands. His appointment reflects the company’s focus on sustained growth at the intersection of design excellence and operational discipline.
Ensemble
Scott Miller, former global director of renowned hospitality interior design firm AvroKO and former director of North America for London-based 1508, announces the launch of Ensemble, a new hospitality design and strategy studio. The firm aims to create spaces that feel elevated, intuitive and entirely original. Ensemble debuts with a portfolio of hotel, restaurant and wellness concepts including The Paradise Valley Hotel & Casitas, a new-build boutique hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona; a fine dining restaurant located adjacent to Four Seasons Hotel Boston; a celebrity-backed private wellness club in New York City’s SoHo; and additional luxury hotel projects yet to be announced.
Supporting Miller in shaping Ensemble as director of design operations is Andrés Lamos, bringing a multidisciplinary approach that marries architectural rigor with interior design, anchored by strong narrative concepts tailored to the hospitality market. Ensemble also is rounded out by a core team of design and creative leaders including: Candace Hickman, design director; Nicole Campion, creative director; and Chris Johnson, project director, F&B operations.
RAMSA
Christina Victori joins the firm as head of interior design to oversee the execution and expansion of its global interiors portfolio. Formerly the managing director of Gachot Studios and Roman and Williams, and design director at Kara Mann, she brings over 20 years of expertise. Victori leverages a contextual, narrative-driven approach to craft timeless, site-specific hospitality and residential spaces that harmonize with architectural history.
Roam Interior Design
Alan McVitty joins the firm as studio practice leader, vice president to lead the London office and expand its international footprint. Previously the founder of M Studio London and a senior leader at Harrods and KCA International, McVitty brings over 30 years of global design leadership. He leverages deep expertise in commercial strategy and operational precision to deliver context-driven interiors across luxury hospitality, marine, and heritage environments. Additionally, there are two promotions within the Dallas office. Deanne Teeter advances to principal, where she will contribute to long-term hospitality strategy and client relations; her project credits include the Ritz-Carlton Portland, W Bellevue, and Astra Tower. Jenny Holt, a hospitality and residential designer with over 30 years of experience across luxury resorts, hotels, and high-end residences, has been elevated to vice president and senior project manager, overseeing project delivery, client relations, and team mentorship.
LMN
Leonardo da Costa, Jennifer DuHamel, Mark Nicol, and Robert Smith have been promoted to associate partners at LMN. Advancing from senior project leadership and university lecturer roles, they will drive cross-disciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and practice growth. The cohort brings over 85 years of combined experience, leveraging specialized expertise in computational tools, data-driven programming, high-performance building metrics, and complex civic venue delivery to advance the firm’s innovative architectural solutions.
Huntsman Architectural Group
Damir Pozderac joins the firm as technical director and senior architect. Supporting projects nationally, he will utilize evolving technologies to accelerate delivery and solve complex code and detailing challenges. Formerly an associate principal at Unispace and a project manager at Gensler and TPG Architecture, Pozderac brings over 20 years of experience. He pairs an exacting design eye with technical execution expertise to maximize client value.
Yabu Pushelberg
Sam Khouvongsavanh, former Design Director at Yabu Pushelberg‘s Toronto studio, has founded Studio Savanh, a Bangkok-based multidisciplinary practice that will serve as the official Southeast Asian affiliate of Yabu Pushelberg. Khouvongsavanh led complex hospitality, residential, and retail projects across three continents during his tenure, with credits including Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Conrad Shenzhen, and Pan Pacific London. Studio Savanh will provide regional oversight on shared projects while maintaining its own independent practice.
Ware Malcomb
Jeannine Goldsmith has been named director, interior architecture & design in Ware Malcomb‘s Houston office, where she will guide the studio’s growth and strategic direction. She brings over 20 years of experience spanning corporate, industrial, energy, aviation, and healthcare sectors, with expertise in FF&E strategy, space planning, and sustainability programming. Previously with a global engineering and design consultancy, Goldsmith holds LEED O+M and NCIDQ certifications and has taught interior design at Houston Community College for four years.
Ware Malcomb also announced four leadership promotions across its Southern California region. Sergio Valentini advances to regional vice president, expanding oversight to include San Diego alongside Los Angeles, Irvine, and the Inland Empire; a licensed architect and RIBA member, he joined the firm in 2019. Angela Ryan has been named office leader in San Diego, bringing over 20 years of interior architecture and design experience across healthcare, retail, and workplace sectors.
Diane Guo rises to director of regional business operations for Southern California, drawing on 18 years of industry experience and a tenure at Ware Malcomb that began in the Irvine Healthcare Studio in 2015. Eric Namisniak has been promoted to director of architecture in the Irvine office, having joined the firm in 2012 as a drafter and steadily advanced through project management and studio leadership roles.
Empire & Co.
Hayley Pernsteiner has joined Empire & Co. as director of hospitality, leading the furniture and interior solutions provider’s newly established hospitality division across hotels, multifamily amenity spaces, restaurants, and mixed-use environments. Previously an interior designer at Hirsch Bedner Associates and Cortland Partners, she later co-founded Collective by DRG, a boutique procurement studio. Her decade-plus of experience bridging luxury design and furniture dealership positions Empire & Co. to scale its hospitality portfolio nationally.
Et al.
Marco Acerbis, winner of the XVIII ADI Compasso d’Oro, has been appointed Art Director of et al., the Italian seating and tables brand founded in 1956 as Metalmobil. The architect and designer brings a product-first philosophy—emphasizing technical and functional excellence alongside aesthetic innovation—to strengthen the brand’s international presence as it marks its 70th anniversary. His appointment signals a more identity-driven, visionary direction for the hospitality-focused manufacturer.
Tangram Interiors
Holly Rau has joined Tangram Interiors as vice president of sales and healthcare practice leader, overseeing new business development and healthcare sales teams across Southern California. She brings over 25 years of commercial interiors experience, including a long tenure at Kimball International and most recently as Managing Director of PeopleSpace’s Orange County and Los Angeles offices, where she also launched the dealership’s Facilities Services business unit.
Spacesmith
Spacesmith has promoted two emerging leaders within its New York practice. Jaclyn Lieck advances to senior associate after joining the firm in 2017, bringing deep experience across embassy interiors for the U.S. Department of State in Kenya, Peru, Thailand, and Nigeria, alongside retail work for Graff across 15-plus locations. Gabrielle Kupfer, LEED AP BD+C, rises to associate since joining in 2024, with project management credits including the Jessica McCormack Madison Avenue flagship and workplace renovations for BlackRock.
Hudson Valley Lighting Group
Nicolas Neubeck has been appointed senior art director at Hudson Valley Lighting Group, where he will lead creative direction across brand, product storytelling, and integrated campaigns. Previously art director at House Beautiful and in leadership roles at Hearst Digital Media overseeing Airbnb Magazine and Uncommon Path, Neubeck also held a creative position at Gilt Groupe and founded Neu Studio, a multidisciplinary branding and design practice.
Haworth
Haworth has acquired a majority shareholding in Tayco, a Toronto-based manufacturer of office furniture and casegoods founded in 1976. The acquisition adds Tayco’s 50-year manufacturing expertise in work systems, storage, casegoods, tables, and seating to Haworth’s global network, while expanding product offerings for North American dealers. Tayco will continue operating independently under president Bill Melnik and its existing senior management team, with full continuity in products and dealer relationships.
Tréca Paris
Isabelle Durand has been appointed chief executive officer of Tréca Paris, the French luxury bedding house founded in 1935 and holder of the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label. Durand brings deep luxury retail expertise, having served as General Manager of the Hermès Faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship, Retail Director Europe at Christian Louboutin, and Senior Vice President at Azzaro Couture. She will focus on strengthening Tréca’s luxury positioning and accelerating international expansion.
Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will has announced two leadership appointments. Yanel de Angel, who has spent 18 years at the firm and has led its Boston studio since 2021, has been elevated to chief marketing officer, assuming responsibility for global marketing strategy, brand, and client experience. She is also the founder of ResilientSEE, a design alliance focused on rebuilding Puerto Rican communities after Hurricane Maria.
Succeeding de Angel in Boston is Vickie Alani, named managing director of the firm’s 150-person studio. An alumna of the Rhode Island School of Design with degrees in both fine arts and architecture, Alani brings 37 years of experience across academic, residential, hospitality, and commercial typologies, joining after nearly a decade as senior principal at another Boston architecture firm.
Material Bank
Robert Thiemann has been appointed EVP of content strategy at Material Bank, where he will lead the platform’s global content efforts across digital, editorial, social, and thought leadership channels. Co-founder and longtime editor-in-chief of FRAME, one of the design world’s most influential publications, Thiemann subsequently launched a strategic design consultancy advising brands on future-ready environments. His appointment signals Material Bank’s ambition to add cultural depth and editorial authority to its material discovery platform.
Lutron
Lutron Electronics has acquired Tanury Industries, a Lincoln, Rhode Island-based surface finishing and metal coatings company that has supplied Lutron with metal faceplates for over 25 years. Founded in 1946, Tanury’s metalwork spans automotive, aviation, marine, and jewelry applications. The acquisition brings premium plating and coating capabilities in-house for Lutron, expanding its portfolio of metal finishes. Tanury will continue operating independently under President and CEO Michael Akkaoui.
Beyer Blinder Belle
Beyer Blinder Belle has appointed Jennie Gwin and Nathaniel Rogers as co-directors of historic preservation, succeeding Richard Southwick who transitions to partner emeritus after two decades in the role. Gwin brings 20-plus years specializing in civic rehabilitation and historic tax credit projects for clients including the National Park Service and National Gallery of Art. Rogers, an adjunct faculty member at Penn’s Weitzman School of Design, has focused his career on adaptive reuse for cultural and higher education clients including Harvard, Yale, and Vanderbilt.
Sunbrella
Sunbrella has announced a series of leadership appointments across its global organization. Andrew Bernard has been promoted to VP of product development, consolidating r&d, design, and product management under one team; Suzie Roberts takes the newly created role of VP of global Sunbrella business, leading worldwide sales; and Greg Voorhis assumes the expanded title of executive director of global design. Additional appointments include Charlie Withers as general manager of the Shade + Marine Business Unit, Tom Notaro as senior general manager of furnishings, Martin Blanc as senior director of retail, and Sarah Dooley as senior director of design trade marketing & sales.
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