Freeman Makes Changes in Top Sales Positions
By Heidi Genoist -- Tradeshow Week, 11/8/2004
Freeman, one of the largest general service contracting firms in the tradeshow business, announced that Larry Arnaudet, executive vice president of sales, left the company Nov. 1 after 23 years of service.
Taking over Arnaudet's sales responsibilities are two vice presidents of sales administration: Martin Moggre, based at the company's corporate headquarters in Dallas; and Mike Bruley, based in the New Orleans office. Each has about 15 years of sales and management experience.
Thirty-year Freeman veteran Bob Lozier, executive vice president of the executive sales group in Chicago, is overseeing the transition.
Neither Arnaudet nor Freeman representatives would discuss the circumstances of his departure. Ellen Beckert, Freeman's corporate director of marketing and communications, said Arnaudet was leaving "based on a mutually agreeable separation" reached in early October.
Arnaudet did say he doesn't have any plans for his next move, career-wise. "I'm going to take off a month or two and take care of some personal issues that have gotten pushed to the background. You know how it is when you put your job first," he noted. "Then I'll figure out what to do next."
He added that he would like to stay involved in the exhibition industry in some way.
Arnaudet joined Freeman in 1981, when Freeman acquired a portion of GES Exposition Services that included the New Orleans operation, where he worked. He had been with GES (first as Manncraft, then as Greyhound Exposition Services) since 1970.
"Larry has been a key contributor to the company's success, and he will be missed," said Joe Popolo, president and CEO of Freeman.
Beckert said that over the years Arnaudet worked with a team of Freeman account executives who know the clients personally, as well as their show requirements. "There should be no impact on the relationship with Freeman, their account team or the quality of production for their events," she said.
Freeman has some 3,500 full-time employees in its 77 offices throughout North America. In 2003, the company reportedly contracted with more than 3,700 tradeshows, 99 of which were listed in the Tradeshow Week 200. It has long-term accounts with 800 different exhibitions.
