Serta Simmons Bedding has made multiple changes to its executive team as Shelly Huff starts as the company’s new CEO.
SSB is integrating its direct-to-consumer and commercial functions under the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, Melanie Huet. who will now be responsible for the complete SSB brand portfolio and commercial strategy.
With Huet’s expanded scope, Jen Daly, CMO of Tuft & Needle, has been promoted to chief marketing officer of SSB, reporting to Huet. In her new role, she will be responsible for brand marketing across the SSB portfolio, which includes Beautyrest, Serta, Simmons, and Tuft & Needle. Jen will also continue to oversee the Tuft & Needle retail stores.
Dan Goldblatt has been named interim chief operating officer. He has served as SSB’s chief human resources officer for the past three years and has played a key role in evolving the company’s strategic direction. As interim COO, Goldblatt will oversee the company’s supply chain and enterprise-wide customer experience teams as well as North American operations.
Esther Ni has been promoted to chief human resources officer. As SVP of HR Operations, Esther has been a critical member of the HR leadership team for the past two and a half years. In her new role, she will be responsible for all human resources functions including compensation and benefits, diversity, equity and inclusion, employee culture and engagement, leadership development, organizational design, and talent management.
SSB is creating a new strategy function and naming Heather Decker as chief strategy officer. Decker most recently served as senior vice president of central operations of SSB and chief of staff for SSB’s DTC business. As chief strategy officer, she will focus on positioning SSB for the future.
SSB is also adding a new leader to the executive leadership team with Danit Marquardt joining SSB as the company’s chief communications officer. In this role, she will be responsible for all corporate, brand, and internal communications, as well as SSB’s philanthropic efforts.
Marquardt most recently served as vice president of global corporate communications at Mattel, where she led communications for corporate stories that enhanced the company’s reputation, oversaw the internal communications team, and provided brand communications leadership to the infant preschool business. Prior to Mattel, she spent seven years at Walmart in several corporate and consumer communications leadership roles including serving as Head of Consumer Communications at Walmart.com and leading communications for various divisions of Walmart U.S.
“Now is an exciting time to be in the sleep industry as consumers no longer think of the mattress as a commodity but rather as a key investment and fundamental part of their sleep and wellness journey,” says Huff. “This shift offers new opportunities to reshape our business to meet the needs of sleepers across all life stages. I firmly believe we are the best-positioned sleep company to meet consumers’ evolving needs and that our recent changes to the executive leadership team will enable us to deliver on our mission to help consumers sleep better and live healthier lives.”
