Venerable Alamance County specialty-textile company Glen Raven has named a new executive to lead its biggest division.

Joseph Davis has been named president of Glen Raven Material Solutions Group, which includes Sunbrella, the company's flagship line of performance fabrics.

Davis succeeds Dave Swers, who is retiring. 

Davis has 30 years of experience in consumer products, sales and supply chain. For nearly 11 years he led Jacuzzi Luxury Bath, part of Jacuzzi Group Worldwide, and has been in sales and supply-chain leadership roles with Stanley Black & Decker Inc. and Price Pfister.

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deanna Deanna Dura Photography

In the new role, Davis oversees the largest division in Glen Raven, directing go-to-market strategies and manufacturing operations for Glen Raven Material Solutions Group’s Furnishings, Shade & Marine and Protective business units, as well as its European and Asian operations. It includes, in addition to Sunbrella, France-based Dickson, GlenGuard protective fabrics, and Glen Raven Asia, a manufacturing center.

 “Joey’s extensive experience in business strategy, business model design, supply chain and sales leadership will serve him well as the next president of our Material Solutions Group,” Glen Raven CEO Leib Oehmig said in announcing the promotion on Tuesday. “His career has been defined by creating a customer experience that is second to none, and most recently, Joey oversaw major transformation of a company business model resulting in new growth platforms that continue to deliver significant results.

The announcement also marks a transition for Swers, whom Glen Raven described as “instrumental in establishing the leadership position of Sunbrella fabrics within the casual furniture industry.”

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Swers joined Glen Raven in 1989. “Under his leadership, his team elevated Sunbrella from its roots as a sturdy canvas fabric to a fashion-forward global brand that is now known for both fabric performance and market-leading design,” the company said. “He also led Sunbrella into new applications and channels, encouraged Glen Raven to create differentiation in indoor furniture by leveraging the Sunbrella performance story and was pivotal in Glen Raven’s efforts to globalize the Sunbrella brand in the furniture and marine markets.”

In 2013, Swers became president of Glen Raven Material Solutions Group, formerly known as Custom Fabrics, and was credited as a driving force and executive sponsor for creating the Consumer Solutions Group.

“Throughout his career, Dave has led with integrity and a vision for the future,” Oehmig said. “I will miss his wise counsel and am grateful that he dedicated more than three decades of his career to Glen Raven. I also appreciate Dave’s willingness to have worked alongside Joey to ensure a seamless transition prior to beginning his much-deserved retirement.”

One of the oldest companies in the Triad's textile industry, Glen Raven traces its history to an 1880 cotton mil. Now, its acrylic-based Sunbrella is considered a premium brand for sun-exposed upholstery and outdoor furniture, awnings and in boating, while flame- and arc-resistant GlenGuard is used in construction, landscaping, and the auto industry, among others.