Brentwood Industries, Inc. has experienced significant growth and success over the past 50 years, thanks to the leadership of the Rye family. After Peter Rye took over as President & CEO from his father, Palle Rye, he has now passed the baton to the third generation of the family – his daughter, Caitlin Banta. Caitlin officially assumed the role of President & CEO on March 31, 2024.
Brentwood has been part of Caitlin’s life for as long as she can remember. “As a kid, I watched my grandfather, Palle, run the business with so much pride and passion,” Caitlin says. “When I was 5 and my family moved from Florida so my dad could do the same, I was too young to understand that this marked the beginning of a multi-generational family business.”
Caitlin’s official career at Brentwood started in 2007 when she joined as a summer intern. After graduating from Tufts University, she continued to work with Brentwood, rotating through different departments to gain a better understanding of the business. In recent years, she has worked closely with Peter to prepare for this transition.
Peter says, “Caitlin has proven herself a passionate and compassionate leader. She fully understands that it is the people that make a business successful. I look forward to witnessing the continued success of our company under her capable leadership.”
Caitlin has a clear vision for the future of Brentwood. Her goal is to provide exceptional value, confidence and reliability to the company’s customers, partners, and employees. To achieve this, she plans to utilize emerging technologies, explore new markets, develop her employees to their full potential, and continue to make positive impacts in the communities Brentwood serves. These are just a few of the key strategies that she hopes will help her accomplish her mission.
“I’m honored and excited to lead Brentwood into its next chapter,” Caitlin says. “I’m passionate about what we do and the people we serve. And I believe in the talent of our team to continue driving growth by delivering exceptional products and services and upholding the values that define who we are.”
Peter and Caitlin express their deep gratitude towards all of Brentwood’s partners for their support and trust. They look forward to Caitlin shaping and creating a new era of Brentwood’s business.