Neolith has appointed Nieves Contreras as chief brand officer (CBO), marking a significant step in the brand’s ongoing global evolution and reinforcing its commitment to a more cohesive and impactful identity.

The newly created role signals a strategic shift for the sintered stone specialist, as it looks to further align its brand, design and sustainability messaging across international markets.

Announced on 9 April 2026, the appointment sees Contreras bring more than two decades of experience in creative leadership and design strategy to the business. She will be responsible for driving the global integration of Neolith’s brand vision, overseeing communication, positioning and storytelling to ensure a consistent voice worldwide.

Driving a unified global vision

The introduction of a chief brand officer reflects Neolith’s focus on strengthening brand consistency while elevating its positioning within the premium architectural surfaces sector. The move also underlines the company’s ambition to connect product innovation with wider cultural, architectural and environmental narratives.

In her new role, Contreras will lead the development of a unified brand strategy designed to enhance Neolith’s presence across key markets, while reinforcing its reputation for innovation, design excellence and sustainability.

Walter Ceglia, CEO of Neolith, said: “Nieves joining Neolith marks a key step in our evolution as a global brand. Her experience in creative leadership and strategic transformation will be instrumental in bringing together our vision for brand, design, innovation, and sustainability into a strong and consistent narrative across international markets. The diversification of our markets—both geographically and across products and segments—will also play an essential role in strengthening our positioning and supporting our future growth.”

Extensive international expertise

Contreras joins Neolith from Lladró, where she spent eight years leading brand strategy and creative direction as Director of the Creativity Department, alongside serving on the company’s executive committee. Her career also includes experience with international design studios such as Elium Studio in Paris, as well as active involvement in academic and cultural design initiatives.

She is currently undertaking a doctorate in Design at the Universitat Politècnica de València and serves on the board of trustees of the Design Foundation of the Region of Valencia. In addition, she holds an international certification in boards of directors and good governance.

Commenting on her new position, Contreras said: “Neolith represents a contemporary vision of architecture and living spaces, where technical excellence and sustainability come together with design and culture. I take on this new challenge with the aim of strengthening a global brand that is consistent, inspiring, and closely connected with architects, designers, and specifiers around the world.”  

Supporting long-term growth

The appointment comes as Neolith continues to expand across key global regions, including the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and China. With a presence in more than 100 countries, the company remains focused on delivering high-performance, sustainable surface solutions for residential and commercial applications.

As Neolith enters this new phase, the creation of the CBO role underlines its ambition to further strengthen its global footprint while shaping a more unified and design-led brand narrative.

Bathroom brand JTP has announced two key additions to its growing sales team which it says is part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening customer relationships and supporting continued business growth across the UK.

Bobby Pearson joins as south east area sales manager, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in the bathroom industry. Starting his career in a showroom before moving into trade sales, Bobby has previously held roles with Salamander Pumps, Novelini and Aqualisa. In his new role, he will focus on developing relationships with merchants and installers across the region.

Commenting on his appointment, Pearson said: “I’m excited to join JTP, a brand known for its stylish, high-quality bathroom products. My first few weeks have been really positive, taking over from Keith following his retirement after 40 years in the industry. It’s great to see customers enthusiastic about building new relationships with both JTP and myself.”

Also joining the business is David Whiteside, who takes on the role of specification manager for the South, West and South Wales. Whiteside will focus on driving specification opportunities across large-scale residential and commercial projects, working closely with key decision-makers including housebuilders, contractors, architects and design practices. He will also ensure JTP products are specified at the earliest stages of project planning, helping to secure volume opportunities and streamline supply through merchant partners.

Speaking about his new role, Whiteside said: “My focus will be on engaging with those responsible for specifying bathroom products across a wide range of developments, from new-build housing to large residential refurbishments and hotel projects. With over 200,000 new homes built annually across England and Wales, there is a significant opportunity to ensure JTP products are considered and specified from the outset.”

These appointments reflect JTP’s continued investment in its people and infrastructure, ensuring the business is well-positioned to support its customers and partners while capitalising on growth opportunities within the sector.