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Henricksen Elevates Chris Knoeppel to Chief Growth Officer
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Knoeppel will lead market expansion and scalable growth initiatives across the organization
Apr 27, 2026
Henricksen is excited to announce the elevation of Chris Knoeppel to Chief Growth Officer. In this role, Knoeppel will lead efforts to drive market expansion, strengthen strategic alignment, and scale growth across the organization.
As Chief Growth Officer, Knoeppel will focus on expanding high-performing vertical markets, strengthening existing strategies, and identifying new opportunities that support long-term, sustainable development. His approach emphasizes aligning teams across regions, building systems that enable consistent execution, and tailoring strategies to reflect the intricate dynamics of each individual market.
“Chris brings a deep understanding of our business and a clear perspective on where advancement opportunities exist,” said Russell Frees, President + Chief Executive Officer at Henricksen. “He is fantastic at establishing systems and frameworks that support consistency, ensuring that strategies are intentional, repeatable, and scalable across the business.”
Knoeppel began his career in the industry in 1996 with Steelcase, where he worked as a learning and development consultant, training internal teams, dealer sales teams, and designers in consultative selling. He later transitioned into a workplace consultant role in the Chicago market, partnering closely with major dealers before expanding his leadership experience as head of sales at Forrer Business Interiors in Milwaukee. He joined Henricksen in 2011 as General Manager for Wisconsin and went on to serve as Divisional General Manager, overseeing Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Tennessee.
“I’m excited to step into this role and focus on balancing consistency with customization across our markets,” said Knoeppel. “My priority is building a strong, engaged team culture while driving thoughtful, strategic growth.”
Throughout his career, Knoeppel has been recognized for his hands-on, team-focused leadership style and his ability to build and develop high-performing teams. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, golf and scuba diving, as well as spending time with his wife, three kids and two dogs.
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