Panini America announced a pair of promotions on Thursday.
Kevin Haake is the company’s new Director of Hobby Sales. Haake has been with Panini since 2009, overseeing the growth and development of retail partners including Walmart, Toys R Us, Walgreens, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.
Haake is from Kansas and went to school at TCU. He was once editor of Beckett Baseball before leaving for an NBA Brand Manager job with Topps in 2008. Soon after, the league agreed to an exclusive trading card deal with Panini and Haake returned to Texas where he joined Panini’s sales team.
“I love this industry and I have enjoyed every opportunity that Panini America has given me.” Haake said. “I now look forward to working more closely with our hobby distribution partners.”
“Kevin has done a tremendous job in his previous role here at Panini,” said D.J. Kazmierczak, Panini America’s Vice President of Sales. “His combination of brand-building experience, along with secondary-market knowledge, are intangibles that are very valuable in our industry and we are lucky to have him.”
Panini has also created a new Direct Sales Account Executive position to be filled by Meghan Goldate., Goldate’s primary role will be providing sales support to the more than 800 Panini Roundtable brick and mortar stores. For the last three years, Goldate has been working with many of these customers in her previous position in finance with the company.
“It continues to be our goal to support brick and mortar stores and Meghan will now be their direct voice toward our organization,” said Kazmierczak. “I have worked directly with Meghan for the past two years and recognize her natural account-management abilities. We are thrilled to expand our sales team with the addition of Meghan.”
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