CFO and CTO Add Deep Experience from Large, Growth-Oriented Companies
BATESVILLE, Ind., February 1, 2024 – Batesville Services, LLC, a leading provider of innovative products and solutions to the death care industry, announced the appointment of Kevin Sierks as SVP and Chief Financial Officer and Ali Sareea as SVP and Chief Technology Officer, adding more depth to the company’s strong executive team as it accelerates the development of world-class burial, cremation and technology solutions. Both leaders have broad experience and expertise driving growth for large, nationally recognized brands and are committed to elevating the customer experience, leveraging data and analytics to improve processes and shape new solutions. Sierks and Sareea report directly to Batesville CEO, Chris Trainor.
“As a private, standalone death care company, Batesville is investing even more in our people, our manufacturing operations and in advanced technologies to better serve the next generation of funeral directors and families,” said Trainor. “I am excited to expand our leadership team with talented individuals who share our values and our commitment to excellence.”
Sierks is an accomplished leader with more than 25 years in finance, accounting and operations management for leading companies in the consumer goods, retail and medical device manufacturing markets. Most recently, he was CFO for Crate & Barrel Holdings, a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise. He previously served as CFO for Vera Bradley, and held leadership roles at Biomet, Inc., Boston Scientific and Deloitte. He has overall responsibility for Batesville’s accounting, finance and business intelligence areas, and leads the company’s strategy process.
Technology is a powerful enabler for businesses and consumers, and Batesville has made significant investments to build and deploy transformational digital solutions, including Batesville Connect®, which provides a more convenient, seamless online experience that is enjoyed by thousands of funeral directors. The majority of the company’s burial and cremation orders are now placed digitally, with new users taking advantage of the system every month.
In his new role as CTO, Sareea has responsibility for guiding Batesville’s technology strategy and investments, which includes the ongoing execution of the company’s digital roadmap and development of high-performance technology and e-commerce offerings. He has an impressive background in IT leadership, software development, business intelligence technologies, omni-channel e-commerce, and digital transformation. Prior to joining Batesville, Sareea was Chief Technology Officer for Aline and previously served as Chief Information Officer for Atria Senior Living, VP of Information Technology for Home Depot Supply and held IT leadership roles at GE.
“This is an exciting time in death care and these strategic additions to our executive team, and the investments we continue to make throughout the organization, are strengthening our ability to deliver value to customers today and well into the future,” said Trainor.
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ABOUT BATESVILLE SERVICES, LLC
Batesville (www.Batesville.com) is a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral professionals in helping families honor the lives of those they love.® A history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service, and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – a market leader.
