Who We Are
Over the past 30 years, founders and managing partners Jack Hough and Steve Cozzolino have helped dozens of renowned brands innovate and grow, as product management and design leaders. Their long-standing collaboration has led to the establishment of Grove Product Group, uniquely combining two disciplines – world-class product management and award-winning industrial design – to drive product-led, organic growth for their clients. Jack and Steve began their careers at an industry-leading product design firm on Grove Street in the Chicago area.
Jack Hough is a product management and marketing executive who has driven growth through innovation for, and with, over 30 companies and brands. He has led and partnered with renowned B2C and B2B brands like Apple, Nike, Pyrex, CorningWare, Life Fitness, Herman Miller, and Whirlpool, leading the transformation of durable goods from functional products to connected, engaging experiences and consistently delivering double-digit revenue growth.
With an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and Bachelor’s degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design from the University of Michigan, Jack brings a unique blend of business acumen, design expertise, and engineering knowledge, fostering a multi-disciplinary, business/art/science approach to innovation.
Early in his career, Jack worked with a broad range of clients including Herman Miller, Whirlpool, SC Johnson, and Sunbeam while at Cesaroni Design Associates, developing breakthrough products and patented inventions. He has held product management leadership roles at Fortune Brands, TTI, and Brunswick Corporation (Life Fitness) where he partnered with Apple and Nike to lead the digital transformation of cardio fitness equipment.
Most recently Jack brings eight years of executive leadership experience, having held Vice President of Product roles at World Kitchen, Bretford, and Honey-Can-Do. Under Jack’s product leadership, Bretford was recognized by Crain’s as Chicago’s #1 Most Innovative Company in 2020.
Jack is driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to creating products that resonate with consumers and customers globally.
Steve Cozzolino, an award-winning and distinguished industrial designer, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Notre Dame in 1993. Steve has worked on a wide range of projects in the consumer, hardware, medical device, and housewares categories including Proctor & Gamble’s original Swiffer and Wet Jet Swiffer. In 2006, Steve launched Cozzolino Studio LLC, a full-service product design, strategy, and branding studio. Clients include All-Clad, Cuisinart, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, Mattel, Mr. Coffee, Nambe, and PepsiCo.
In 2001, Steve collaborated with Eva Zeisel on a collection for Nambe. From 2002-2006, Steve was Design Director at Karim Rashid Inc. where he worked on consumer products, cosmetic packaging, housewares, electronics, tabletop, furniture, and lighting projects.
In 2006, Steve launched Cozzolino Studio LLC, a full-service product design, strategy, and branding studio (www.cozzolinostudio.com). His clients include All-Clad, Cuisinart, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, Mattel, Mr. Coffee, Nambe, and PepsiCo.
Steve is a design judge and presenter on the highly acclaimed CBS Design and Innovation TV series, America By Design. Cozzolino Studio has been featured in The New York Times, Fortune Magazine, MOMA Design Store, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and was honored by the City of New York with an "Excellence in Design" Award. Cozzolino Studio has repeatedly won “Red Dot” Design Awards, Global Innovation Awards, "Good Design" Awards, IDEA, and Housewares Design Awards, and has received numerous design patents.
Steve’s focus and design studio’s mission: “Disrupt the Present, Inspire the Future.” Steve believes that empathy is one of the most powerful design tools in developing relevant, compelling experiences for all. Steve strives to create iconic designs and one-of-a-kind solutions that engage and resonate with consumers. By bringing disruptive design and memorable experiences to market, Steve and the team elevate brands and help grow businesses, connecting people to everyday objects and public spaces in a more meaningful way. Design with a purpose.”
