# Katherine Kalen

> Katherine Kalen is the chief marketing officer of Toronto-based furniture company SUNPAN. After beginning her career in increasingly senior marketing roles at Sears Canada, she joined SUNPAN in 2013, became chief marketing officer in 2019, and helped present the company through showroom expansion, designer partnerships, digital commerce, trend education, hospitality-led market events, and the growth of its outdoor category.

- **Role:** Chief Marketing Officer at SUNPAN
- **Organizations:** SUNPAN, Sears Canada, Ryerson University Marketing Alumni Association
- **Education:** Bachelor of Commerce, Honours, Ryerson University, Université Paris Dauphine
- **Known for:** Advanced from marketing analyst at Sears Canada to chief marketing officer at SUNPAN over a nine-year span., Helped communicate SUNPAN showroom expansions in Las Vegas and High Point, including a 20,000-square-foot High Point location in 2014., Selected as a panelist for the 2018 DesignEDGE summit on designer-brand collaboration and moving products from creation to consumer.

## Career timeline

- **2010-2012** — Worked at Sears Canada, first as a marketing analyst and then as an associate marketing manager.
- **2012-2013** — Served as marketing manager at Sears Canada.
- **2013-2019** — Joined SUNPAN as marketing director.
- **2014** — Represented SUNPAN during major showroom expansions in Las Vegas and High Point, including a move to a 20,000-square-foot High Point showroom.
- **2018** — Appeared on the IFDA Educational Foundation’s DesignEDGE panel about moving design from creation to consumer and building designer-brand partnerships.
- **2019-present** — Serves as chief marketing officer at SUNPAN.
- **2020** — Helped introduce SUNPAN’s mobile-optimized shopping site as part of an omnichannel strategy linked to showroom expansion.
- **2024** — Presented SUNPAN’s relocated Las Vegas showroom as a place for hospitality, networking and product discovery.
- **2025** — Discussed SUNPAN’s growing outdoor category and its strategy of adapting indoor design cues for weather-resistant residential and contract furniture.

## Achievements

- Advanced from marketing analyst at Sears Canada to chief marketing officer at SUNPAN over a nine-year span.
- Helped communicate SUNPAN showroom expansions in Las Vegas and High Point, including a 20,000-square-foot High Point location in 2014.
- Selected as a panelist for the 2018 DesignEDGE summit on designer-brand collaboration and moving products from creation to consumer.
- Helped position SUNPAN’s mobile site as part of a connected omnichannel shopping experience in 2020.
- Supported industry education by hosting a 2024 High Point Market trend seminar focused on consumer sentiment and design innovation.
- Publicly articulated SUNPAN’s strategy for extending indoor aesthetics into durable outdoor furniture in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Kalen discussed SUNPAN’s outdoor growth at High Point Market, citing success with dining pieces, armchairs and bistro tables for residential and contract use.
- **2024-04** — Kalen supported a SUNPAN-hosted High Point Market trend seminar designed to educate the design community about consumer sentiment and emerging trends.
- **2024-01** — Kalen introduced the hospitality program for SUNPAN’s relocated Las Vegas Market showroom.

## Links

- Website: https://sunpan.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinekalen

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/katherine-kalen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-23