Woburn, Massachusetts-based Spring Air International, a top 20 U.S. bedding manufacturer and consumer brand, has named Nick Bates, its president since 2017, CEO of the company following the recent death of Eddie Bates.
According to a news release, Nick Bates began his career with Spring Air in 2009 as a sales and marketing coordinator. There he learned the business working on the production floor of the company’s factory, then located in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and selling beds to retailers. In 2013, he was named director of corporate accounts where he played an integral role in the development and growth of Spring Air’s key national accounts business. He was elevated to vice president of sales in 2016 and became president of the company a year later.
Company officials said Bates is credited with bringing the unique perspective of the younger consumer to his post and is making a concerted effort to shift the company’s approach to marketing to appeal to millennials. By collaborating closely with the company’s executive team, Bates has set a clear path for Spring Air’s future that includes plans to engage consumers at each step of the mattress-buying process.
Among his many achievements, the executive has helped spearhead the development and distribution of industry-leading products throughout the marketplace via the Spring Air licensee network, including such collections as Chattam & Wells and most recently Sleep Copper and Four Seasons, the news release said.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Bates holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. He currently lives in Reading, Mass., with his wife and family.
“I am honored to have been chosen the next CEO of Spring Air. For the past 16 years, I have worked closely with Eddie, our wonderful licensees, and customers to restore the luster and leadership position of our brand. I have learned a lot and together, we have made our brand one of the top contenders in our industry,” said Bates. “We have many more opportunities to grow and expand our business together, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to realize those goals.”
Read more on Spring Air: Longtime Spring Air International Chair and CEO Edward Bates Dies.
