Walker Zanger, a leading stone and tile company, announced the promotion of Andre Holtshausen to national architectural sales manager. In his new position, Holtshausen will implement sales strategies, guide branch managers and train the national sales force to achieve diverse goals.

In his previous position as a Walker Zanger branch manager in Charlotte, NC, and San Francisco, CA, Holtshausen led the charge to evaluate the local markets and increase the company’s presence in the builder and fabricator sectors. Combining the resources and first-hand knowledge of a branch manager with the overall message and sales goals of the company, Holtshausen’s new position is a first for Walker Zanger.

“For the past eight years, Andre Holtshausen has excelled and exceeded our sales projections,” said Pat Petrocelli, COO of Walker Zanger. “Now acting as the liaison between the vice president of sales and the sales force, Andre’s position will allow Walker Zanger to better serve our clients both internally and externally.”

With nearly 20 years of experience in the stone and tile industry, Holtshausen brings a wealth of practical knowledge to Walker Zanger. While living in South Africa, Holtshausen and a colleague started their own ceramics company in 1992. In the first year, Holtshausen’s business grew from a tiny home office to a moderate warehouse filled with tile from suppliers in Italy and Brazil. The company continued to grow, with two more locations opening in other regions of South Africa before Holtshausen left for the U.S.

Holtshausen earned his Bachelor of Communication in marketing from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and he resides in Los Angeles with his wife.