Andis Company, maker of professional-grade tools for the professional salon, barber and animal grooming industries, as well as the home consumer and hospitality industry, announces the addition of Al Arends as marketing product manager. In this position, Arends will be responsible for overseeing products from inception to the market and working across the organization to develop and meet the company’s overall strategic product plan. He will report to Karen Formico, vice president of marketing.

“Al comes to Andis with a background focused on market-based, new product development,” says Formico. “He thoroughly understands the process of bringing the voice of the customer to new product development efforts and will be instrumental in helping Andis meet our innovation goals.”

Prior to joining Andis, Arends held extensive category leadership positions at Fellowes, Home Products International, Smead Manufacturing and Avery International. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Arends earned his MBA in marketing from Loyola University, Chicago. He resides in Chicago.

www.andis.com