HIGH POINT, N.C. and LAS VEGAS — International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premium home furnishings, gift and home décor showroom and exhibition space, announced that Scott Eckman has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer/Chief Strategy Officer (CMO/CSO).

In the newly created position of CMO/CSO, Eckman will be responsible for defining and driving all strategic, corporate development and marketing activities across the IMC organization. For the last five years, Eckman has served in a senior leadership capacity with GMAC Insurance Holdings, based in Winton-Salem, N.C.

“We are very excited to have someone of Scott’s professionalism, leadership and critical thinking capabilities heading the strategy and marketing efforts for the newly formed organization of IMC. He brings significant experience and proven success in leading corporate development activities, managing the analysis process for acquisitions, and designing and executing marketing initiatives,” said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers.

Maricich added, “We have exceptional marketing talent and professionals in both High Point and Las Vegas with deep industry experience and notable successes building our markets and properties. Under Scott’s leadership, we can continue to expand our teams’ breadth and effectiveness as we harness the value proposition of our new corporate portfolio.”

Eckman reports to Maricich and will be based in High Point, NC. Reporting up to Eckman is Dana Andrew, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations (based in Las Vegas) and Karen Olson, Vice President of Marketing (based in High Point) and their respective marketing teams. Eckman will also work closely to support the leasing efforts of the President of Furniture, Tom Mitchell, and the newly appointed President of Gift, Dorothy Belshaw.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the talented team that Bob has assembled. As a marketer, I am eager to have the opportunity to help identify and create real value that is created by bringing together the Las Vegas and High Point operations under one umbrella,” stated Eckman.

Most recently, Eckman served as the Chief Marketing Officer and on the Executive Management Committee of GMAC Insurance Holdings, a $1.2 billion in personal lines insurance operation. In his capacity, he was responsible for the sales and marketing activities of their Affinity Business, as well as all corporate marketing efforts and strategy efforts. Additionally, he was responsible for a 100+ person inbound sales call center. Prior to holding this position, Eckman served as a Senior Vice President and General Manager of GMAC’s Agency Division where he was responsible for profit and loss of $600 million in auto insurance premiums sold through a network of over 10,000 independent insurance agents.

Prior to GMAC, Eckman was General Manager/Senior Director of Georgia-Pacific’s North American Commercial Wiper Business with full P&L responsibility. Before that, he worked for three years as management consultant and then Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group where he specialized in consumer goods with functional focus in sales and marketing.

Raised in Baton Rouge, La., Scott received his undergraduate from Louisiana State University, an MS in experimental psychology from the College of William & Mary, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He taught research methods and statistics to undergraduates for four semesters while a teaching assistant at William & Mary.

Source: International Market Centers