MIAMI, March 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Arteza, the leading direct-to-consumer arts and crafts supplies company, today announced the appointment of Brenda Freeman as Chief Executive Officer. In her new role, Freeman will oversee Arteza's next phase of growth fueled by a strong existing brand and loyal community of more than 2 million customers globally.
The appointment of Freeman comes on the heels of Arteza's $24M Series A investment from Volition Capital in November 2019 and 10x revenue growth over the past 2 years. During the 2019 holiday season, Arteza acquired more than 500,000 new customers spanning students, hobbyists, and professional artists. The company drove similar aggressive growth in its product portfolio, introducing more than 500 new products in 2019.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I'd like to welcome Brenda to the Arteza team," said Larry Cheng, Managing Partner at Volition Capital. "Brenda's deep management and technology experience coupled with her passion and involvement in the art community will be vital in taking Arteza into its next chapter. I anticipate great things ahead working closely with Brenda and the rest of Arteza's management team to execute on the company's vision to reinvent the art supplies industry."
Freeman has more than 25 years of experience leading business strategy and marketing for both startups and Fortune 500 companies. She was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Magic Leap where she led all aspects of brand, digital, product marketing and government relations for the company. Previously, she held senior-level marketing and brand management positions at leading media and CPG companies including National Geographic Channels, DreamWorks, Turner Broadcasting, Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, Pepsi, and Frito Lay. Freeman currently serves as an independent board director for several publicly traded companies including Avnet Inc., Caleres Inc., and RTW.
As an African-American woman and Arteza's first CEO, Brenda will bring a diverse and valuable perspective to her leadership role. In addition to her vast experience, Freeman is also an avid art collector and an Ambassador to the Fund for African-American Art at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. She is a board advisor for the Savannah College of Art and Design and educator for creative careers at The Bakehouse Art Complex, an artist collective located in Wynwood, the midtown arts district of Miami.
"From the very first conversation I had with Arteza, I knew there was significant runway for continued growth and real potential for the company to scale into a world-class billion-dollar brand," said Freeman. "Arteza's proven product-market fit and commitment to building a customer-focused business around superior customer experience has positioned the company for sustained success. Moving ahead, we will build on Arteza's strong momentum by continuing to develop and introduce innovative art products, hire the best talent and engage our community with valuable content that educates and inspires artists from all walks of life."
Freeman received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a joint M.B.A in finance and marketing, from the University of Maryland, College Park.
About Arteza
Founded in 2015, Arteza's mission is to inspire a more creative tomorrow by providing high-quality yet affordable arts & crafts supplies. With more than 2 million customers across 100 countries, Arteza has redefined the art supply industry with its direct-to-consumer model, new product innovation, and a robust online and social media presence focused on providing superior customer experiences. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida and sells online at https://arteza.com/. Follow on Instagram @artezaofficial.
SOURCE Arteza
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