Smith & Wesson taps new SVP, sales and marketing

Smith & Wesson has hired Andrew Coccari Jr. to fill the newly created position of SVP of sales and marketing, effective August 11. His appointment follows the announced retirement of Mario Pasantes, SVP of marketing and international sales, scheduled for 2015.



Coccari joins the organization from Dorel Industries, where he served as SVP of strategic growth initiatives for Cannondale Sports. He has 20 years of sales and marketing leadership experience. His prior work includes the management of direct and indirect sales forces across a variety of sales channels, including sporting goods independent retailers and specialty retailers.



At Dorel Industries, he led global initiatives for bicycle brands Cannondale, GT, Schwinn, Mongoose and Sugoi. Prior to that, he led the global business for Honeywell Corporation's FRAM Filters and earlier served as VP of sales and marketing for Standard Renewable Energy, in Houston, Texas.



Coccari was VP of marketing and innovation for North American at Royal Dutch Shell where he had direct P&L responsibility for a $1.2 billion portfolio of brands and headed up all activities related to the Pennzoil and Quaker State Brands. During his time with Shell, Coccari oversaw a program designed to leverage and reposition the Pennzoil and Quaker State brand portfolio. Prior roles included increasingly responsible sales and marketing positions with Coyne Communications, BP, L'Oreal and Honeywell.



"I am extremely pleased and excited to welcome Andy to the Smith & Wesson team,” James Debney, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said. “He has built an impressive track record of creating and executing successful sales and marketing strategies for a number of highly respected and global brands. His sales experience, brand growth knowledge, and leadership skills will be valuable additions to our company and to our executive team as we continue to grow our business and develop our brand portfolio."



Coccari earned his bachelor of science degree from The State University of New York and his MBA from New York University.