Pete Baker and Scott KelleyWe learned last Thursday that RTI had replaced 12-year veteran VP of sales and marketing Pete Baker with Scott Kelley, a former senior manager at 3M and Bose’s medical device, bio-medical, and engineered materials division. By the end of the week, I had spoken with both Baker and Kelley, learning a bit more about their respective plans moving forward.
Kelley told me about passion for consumer electronics despite not having yet worked in this business. He acknowledged that his biggest challenge would be learning the specifics of our industry and building relationships with dealers and distributors. Business acumen is clearly his strength, and he’s looking to increase the company’s distribution in Latin America, Asia, and Europe, and increase brand awareness with consumers.
Despite his success over the years with RTI, Kelley predecessor, Pete Baker, said that had come to a point with the company when he knew it was best to make a change. He agreed with company founder and CEO John Demskie that he would stick around until his replacement was found. In fact, he was quoted in a product press release I received about a week ago.
On Friday, Baker and I chatted about his time at RTI and where he’s headed next.
“I am honored to have had the great opportunity to work with such a
talented team of colleagues at RTI over the past 12 years, especially but not limited to the amazing sales and marketing team I had the pleasure of working with during my tenure,” Baker stated.
He said that he’s proud of the achievements made during his time with RTI, and he gave “all of the credit” to his colleagues at RTI, global distribution partners, and dealers “who exploded with purple passion,” (a reference to the company’s logo color.)
“I have never witnessed such incredible passion and dedication for a brand in my career,” Baker said. “It is because of their commitment to the brand—and of course the seriously cool products and programming software—that RTI has been so highly regarded as a control and automation solution all over the globe. I wish all dealers, distribution partners, and my successor along with the
rest of the entire team at RTI continued success.”
Baker said he plans to remain in the consumer electronics industry, most likely with focus on international business, consulting with manufacturers on setting up foreign distribution of their products.
However, he said, his only immediate plans are to relax and enjoy some time with his family, until he begins his “next adventure.”
Baker can be contacted by phone at 952.270.3999 or via email at [email protected]
