Our History & Heritage

For over 65 years, LATICRETE has been leading the construction market by manufacturing innovative construction materials. Through three generations, the family-owned, customer focused, world-wide manufacturer provides materials to over one hundred countries.

All this began in a basement in New Haven, CT with one innovator, Dr. Henry M. Rothberg.

First Generation

During the late 1940’s, while working in his family’s floor covering installation business in South Carolina, a young Chemical Engineer, Dr. Henry M. Rothberg realized that there must be a better way to install ceramic tile than the traditional “full mortar bed” method. He decided to dedicate himself to research alternative methods of installing ceramic tile and stone to bring improvements of chemistry to the normal Portland cement-based installation systems for tile and stone.

Dr. Rothberg took his samples and product literature and departed for overseas markets where tile and stone were already much more common finishes. Large installations and long-term relationships followed successful presentations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. LATICRETE remained primarily export-focused in its early years.

2nd Generation

LATICRETE became one of the most prominent product lines available as tile distribution developed around the world in the 1960s and 1970s. As distribution increased, so did the availability of LATICRETE. More and more products were added to the LATICRETE product line that allowed installation of ceramic tile in residential and remodel applications as well as in industrial and commercial construction. LATICRETE became a brand preferred by many types of installers, not just large installation firms focusing on large projects. Demand for LATICRETE products is fulfilled through distribution supported by 8 plants in North America, and a network of factories, distributors and partners around the world.

In the 1990s LATICRETE sharpened its focus on the international market to create and cultivate efficient local production in expanding markets. This successful strategy has resulted in worldwide local availability of LATICRETE installation materials. Together with a cohort of remarkable employees, Dr. Rothberg and his two sons built a trusted, respected international enterprise. Now more than 100 times its original size, the company supports thousands of families and works to better the lives of people and communities in more than 100 countries.

After succeeding his father as Chairman and CEO in 2001, David broke with tradition by replacing family members on the Board of Directors with a very experienced, diverse selection of business people, thereby bringing broader and different perspectives into the company’s leadership framework. This choice has been instrumental in producing the sharp increase in the breadth of corporate operations, efficiencies and capabilities.

By listing his home phone number on his business card, David signaled not just high levels of personal involvement but also his belief that true inclusivity drives 21st century business. David’s respect for hands-on experience, resourcefulness and unconventional problem solving, learned from a lifetime hobby of mountaineering and exploration in remote parts, has inspired an organizational embrace of change and the unexpected. David has also been responsible for directing a critical evolution of the LATICRETE international business model from dependence on export of products manufactured in one U.S. factory to a worldwide network that services customers with manufacturing, technical support and R&D.

Patrick Millot, CEO and David Rothberg Chairman of the Board for LATICRETE

In August 2020, Patrick Millot succeeded David as LATICRETE CEO after a multi-faceted and accomplished career with the Fortune Global 500 company Saint-Gobain, where he spearheaded manufacturing and omni channel distribution for the industrial and construction industries.

“I see the same focused enthusiasm in Patrick that I have and I am delighted that together, we will ensure continuity of our culture and values, while he takes our innovation, customer centricity and globalization to the next level. I am confident that Patrick will effectively take up the mantle begun with my parents, and transition seamlessly into his new role propelling LATICRETE forward." – David A. Rothberg, Chairman of the Board.

3rd Generation Family Members

Samantha T Rothberg - Strategic Account Manager

Samantha T. Rothberg
Director of Marketing Communications, North America

Sam currently works as the Director of Marketing Communications for North America, where she oversees the MarCom team and collaborates closely with Product Management and Marketing Information Systems.

Prior to this role, Sam was based in Italy as the Director of Marketing & Product Management for Europe. She also served as the Integration Project Manager & Acting Marketing Manager for Europe. where she led the successful integration of the Benfer acquisition and helped establish the Marketing & Product Management team in Italy. Prior to joining the International Division, she was involved with the LATICRETE Innovation team and North America Sales/Strategic Accounts Group, focusing on industry innovation and offsite/modular construction.

Before joining the LATICRETE team, Sam held the position of Project Manager at Lehrer, LLC, where she provided project advisory services and acted as an owner's rep for private development and construction projects within the New York City area. She also served as Project Director at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), overseeing complex capital projects on behalf of the City of New York.

Alex Rothberg
Senior Operations Data & Process Manager, North America

Alex Rothberg is our Senior Operations Data & Process Manager for North America where he leads technology-centric and related process improvement projects, with the goal of amplifying productivity as well as enhancing customer and employee experiences. He serves as the technology business partner for the Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality Engineering, and Customer Service functions.

Prior to this role, he co-founded and was COO at Free Agency (a Hollywood-style talent agency for workers in the tech industry) where he raised $15M from venture funds and oversaw the in-house software development team and contract researcher workforce. He also served as VP of Engineering at Stella.ai and led the Machine Learning team at Butterfly Network, both technology startup companies.