EASTON, Pa. — Pete Ruggiero, a Lehigh Valley native with more than 25 years at Crayola, will become the company's chief executive officer, the company announced Thursday.
Crayola Chief Executive Officer Rich Wuerthele will retire from the company, it was announced.
Ruggiero, who most recently was Crayola's chief operating officer, will take over effective April 2.
“I am honored to be the next leader of Crayola and grateful to work alongside a strong team of Crayolians across the globe. I look forward to expanding the Crayola brand and fulfilling its powerful purpose over the next few years.”Pete Ruggiero, who will become Crayola's chief executive officer
The company said Wuerthele, who led the company for four years, "will remain engaged in the Crayola business for the next two months to ensure a smooth transition."
“I am honored to be the next leader of Crayola and grateful to work alongside a strong team of Crayolians across the globe,” Ruggiero said in the release.
“I look forward to expanding the Crayola brand and fulfilling its powerful purpose over the next few years.”
Ruggiero will be responsible for all aspects of Crayola’s global business. He will provide strategic direction and vision for the company to fulfill their mission of helping parents and educators raise creatively alive children.
“Pete is a great leader and a fantastic champion for the Crayola brand," Mike Perry, chief operating officer of Hallmark, which owns Crayola, said.
“In his tenure with the company, he has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing a vibrant culture, a focus on executional excellence, and an unwavering goal of building the Crayola brand to lead the business to continued success."
Integral in the company's success
Ruggiero played an integral role in the company’s success, the release said.
Under his leadership of Global Operations, Crayola installed a 30,000-panel solar farm, enhanced its global supply chain capabilities, completed a multi-year project to bring automation to crayon manufacturing, and established a culture of driving continuous improvement.
During his time as COO, Crayola expanded its U.S. and international business units.
Ruggiero grew up in Pen Argyl and still resides in the Lehigh Valley. A Villanova University graduate, he got a Masters of Business Administration degree at Lehigh University.
Ruggiero joined Crayola in 1997.
Ruggiero serves on the board of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and as a Trustee of Lafayette College.
'Proud of all we have accomplished'
Wuerthele led Crayola through the coronavirus pandemic and during his tenure, Crayola introduced Colors of The World crayons, the most successful product launch in the company's history.
He also started Crayola Creativity Week, providing free programming and creative inspiration to more than 6 million students in 100 countries.
"It has been a pleasure to experience the dedication of Crayola employees as they work to inspire children around the world to creatively express themselves through art. I look forward to watching the company grow and build on our success."Crayola Chief Executive Officer Rich Wuerthele
"His leadership in creating a long-term strategy for Crayola and expanding the mission and reach of the brand made a significant impact on the company," Crayola said in a news release.
"It has been an honor to lead the most colorful company in the world over the past four years," Wuerthele said. "I'm proud of all that we have accomplished.
"It has been a pleasure to experience the dedication of Crayola employees as they work to inspire children around the world to creatively express themselves through art.
"I look forward to watching the company grow and build on our success."
Mike Perry, chief operating officer of Hallmark, which owns Crayola, said, "I want to extend my deep appreciation for Rich and his leadership."
"In every position held throughout his career, he has consistently elevated both the work and the business, and that is undoubtedly true of his time with Crayola.”
During his time at Crayola, served on the board for the Greater Easton Development Partnership and on the Economic and Community Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
He also served on the board of Valley Youth House and the Setting the Stage Committee. He and his wife, Eileen, were recently honored at the Setting the Stage event for their commitment to the community which raised record breaking funds for Valley Youth House.
