TUALATIN, Ore.—Steve Grutbo has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for the housewares division of Kai USA Ltd.
Grutbo, who has been with the company since 2009 and most recently served as national sales manager, will assume leadership of the division effective February 8 and will report directly to Hiroshi (Jack) Igarashi, chief of North American operations and managing director of Kai Corporation in Japan.
He succeeds Kurt Zanner, who is returning to the Midwest to pursue personal and family goals, the company said.
Grutbo will oversee the continued North American growth of the successful Shun brand of fine kitchen cutlery as well as the Kai brand of kitchenware and other household products. Shun brand cutlery is used by professional chefs, including celebrity chefs, and avid home cooks throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.
“Steve brings a wealth of sales and executive experience to his new position within the company,” Igarashi said. “I am very confident in his abilities to continue to grow the brand.”