NEW YORK–Laurie Burns has been named director of permanent showroom building 41 Madison/The New York Merchandise Mart, and senior vice president of Rudin Management Company.
Burns, former executive director of the Atlanta Gift Mart, succeeds Carole Dixon, who announced her retirement in June and who will remain through the New York Fall Tabletop Show next month.
William Rudin, president of Rudin Management Co., said Burns’ previous experience and extensive knowledge of the tabletop and gift industries “will assure a seamless transition as Carole retires after nearly 30 years.”
Burns, who currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand, has traveled and worked extensively throughout Asia and has toured many of the factories of 41 Madison’s tenants, according to a release from Rudin.
“As 41 Madison is the premier tabletop market in the USA, I shall dedicate myself to producing the same high quality New York Tabletop Markets that the showrooms at 41 have come to expect and that met the needs of the industry,” said Burns.
Dixon said she was “delighted” with the choice of successor. “I had great respect for her accomplishments during her years at the Atlanta Mart and feel that this, coupled with her recent experience dealing with tableware factories in Asia, make her an ideal fit for this post.”