Forty Winks appoints Daniel Gutstein as new CEO
Chairperson, Guyan Stroud, said the company is delighted to welcome Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein to the Forty Winks family ahead of its 40th birthday. “Pancho’s global business and strategic leadership expertise, combined with his enduring passion for retail, will amplify our future growth ambitions. We are excited by, and confident in, his ability to lead our heritage brand into its fourth decade, building brand momentum and sales for our franchisees, and continuing to deliver exceptional products and services for new and existing customers,” he says.
Pancho joins Forty Winks from 15-years at sportswear juggernaut PUMA where he’s held multiple leadership roles across Australia and the United States. Most recently, Pancho has led PUMA Oceania as General Manager where the team has almost tripled the market’s turnover since 2017. Prior to moving to Australia, Pancho was the Senior Vice President of Merchandising reporting into the President of PUMA North America.
Pancho said Forty Winks’ deep family roots and desire to build meaningful connections with a new generation of consumers drew him to the opportunity. “I value Forty Winks’ candour, commitment to family, and the intent to create a legacy for the next generation. The company has a great sense of determination, confirmed by its long-standing history as one of the nation’s most trusted bedding experts. I look forward to helping shape the next chapter in the Forty Winks story and continuing to deliver on the brand’s commitment to help more Australians ‘Go to better sleep’,” he says.
Founded in Melbourne in 1984, Forty Winks is Australia’s leading bedding retail specialist with a network of more than 100 family owned and operated stores, servicing all major cities, territories and regional centres. As one of the nation’s longest standing specialty bedding brands, Forty Winks offers Australians a great night’s sleep with exclusive bedMATCH® technology, helping them find the perfect mattress to suit their needs, alongside bedroom furniture and accessories from leading Australian and international brands.
The launch of the recent brand refresh was aligned with ‘The Unslept’ campaign, introducing Australians to a horde of seriously tired people – each one exhibiting some of the most common sleep issues. Throughout the hero film, Forty Winks staffers work together to solve each character’s sleep challenge with premium Forty Winks solutions, ultimately helping them ‘Go to better sleep’.
Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein will commence as Forty Winks CEO from mid-January 2024. fortywinks.com.au
Left to right: Guyan Stroud, Chairperson of Forty Winks, and Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein, incoming CEO of Forty Winks
Founded in Melbourne in 1984, Forty Winks is Australia’s leading bedding retail specialist with a network of more than 100 family owned and operated stores, servicing all major cities, territories and regional centres. As one of the nation’s longest standing and most iconic specialty bedding brands, Forty Winks helps Australians ‘Go to better sleep’ with exclusive bedMATCH® technology, helping them find the perfect mattress to suit their needs, alongside bedroom furniture and accessories from leading Australian and international brands.
ABOUT DANIEL “PANCHO” GUTSTEIN
Daniel “Pancho” Gutstein has worked in consumer products across strategy, brand, digital, product and commercial leadership for more than 20 years. Born in the United States, Pancho studied at Princeton University and upon graduation, with no clear career ambitions, moved to New York City to pursue acting, at which he failed miserably.
Pancho then joined Doublespace, a boutique brand and digital agency and began his career in brand and consumer marketing. He then joined Graco Children’s Products (A Newell Rubbermaid Company) as a marketing manager, ultimately leading global brand and digital marketing. In 2009, Pancho joined PUMA North America and held senior roles in strategy and merchandising. In 2017, he moved to Australia with his wife Kay, to take on the role of General Manager of PUMA Oceania.
During his tenure the team nearly tripled market turnover and built a culture grounded in belonging, strong relationships and a commitment to better. Pancho currently lives in Melbourne, Australia with Kay and two children. He will commence as Forty Winks CEO from mid-January 2024.
