Panini America Adds Collectibles Industry Veteran Tim Franz as Director of Sales

Panini America officials announced on Friday the hiring of sports collectibles industry veteran Tim Franz as the company’s Director of Sales. Franz will be responsible for the primary management of the Panini America hobby business and will report to D.J. Kazmierczak, Panini America’s Vice President of Sales, in a role that is effective immediately.

Panini America officials announced on Friday the hiring of sports collectibles industry veteran Tim Franz as the company’s Director of Sales. Franz will be responsible for the primary management of the Panini America hobby business and will report to D.J. Kazmierczak, Panini America’s Vice President of Sales, in a role that is effective immediately.

Franz, a Dallas native, first entered the sports collectibles industry in 1997 as a member of the Donruss Trading Card Product Development team. Three years later he accepted a position with Fleer Trading Cards as that company’s Director of Product Development, eventually ascending to the role of Hobby Sales Director in 2004. Not long after, Franz accepted a position on the distribution side of the industry, spending four years as the Director of New Business Development for Excell Marketing. Most recently, Franz served as a National Account Manager with the Topps Company.

“I moved back to Texas in 2008 to be with my family and joining the Panini America family is a true homecoming for me,” Franz said. “I am genuinely thrilled to be home and I cherish the opportunity that Panini America has given me.”

Said Kazmierczak: “I am ecstatic about Tim joining our sales team. He will make an immediate impact on behalf of Panini America and our partners.”

Franz will accompany Panini America officials to next week’s 2013 Industry Summit in Las Vegas.