Eduardo Cosentino has established a substantial career with the Cosentino Group, the family-owned global leader in the production of innovative surfaces for architecture and design.

Eduardo Cosentino has established a substantial career with the Cosentino Group, the family-owned global leader in the production of innovative surfaces for architecture and design.

The Slippery Rock Gazette reached out to Eduardo Cosentino for an exclusive interview on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Cosentino, and the 25th Anniversary of Silestone. The global success of Cosentino owes much to Eduardo’s drive and business acumen, so we wanted to know more about his career with this innovative family-owned business. 

Starting as a Cosentino intern in high school, Eduardo built his career from the ground up, taking on roles in multiple divisions, from workshop and commercial operations, to commercial sales and senior management roles at both the regional and international level. 

Since 2005 Eduardo has held the post of Global Corporate Sales executive vice-president, where he oversees Cosentino Group’s sales efforts globally, and utilizes his multi-cultural design and sales experience to influence the company’s product design and research and development teams. 

In addition to his global sales responsibility, in 2010 Eduardo was named CEO of Cosentino North America, where he has overseen the company’s growth in the U.S. market. 

Motivated by complex challenges and driven to develop the talents of his colleagues, Eduardo is known for his boundless energy, intuition, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. He splits his time between the company’s North American Headquarters in Miami and the Global Headquarters in Spain. 

Eduardo is also a member of Cosentino’s Steering Committee, Executive Committee and Company Board. Since 2002 he has been vice-president of the Andalusian Marble Association.


Tell us about Cosentino Group’s origins.

“Cosentino Group has its origins in the quarrying, processing and sale of marble from the Sierra de los Filabres mountains in the province of Almeria, Spain. The ‘White Macael’ marble from this area is particularly outstanding. Since 1979, the company’s process of expansion and research has led it to apply the latest technology to produce innovative materials and high-value solutions for the world of architecture and design.“

Although Cosentino was already a European stone powerhouse for 15 years, Silestone put the company on the map in North America, while defining the quartz category of countertops. Silestone is now one of the leading brands of quartz in America. 

Next on the timeline, Cosentino went back to its roots with a new line of marble, plus granite and quartz, with its Sensa natural stone line. Sensa incorporates Senguard NK, an exclusive protection against stains and allows the stone to breathe. The stone is treated at Cosentino before it leaves. 

Then, in 2013, the company created the ultra-compact surfacing material Dekton. Dekton® is manufactured using Cosentino’s exclusive TSP (Technology of Sintered Particles) technology, a manufacturing process that uses an accelerated version of the high pressures and high temperatures processes that nature applies over thousands of years, to product natural stone. In 2016 Dekton® obtained the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), after analyzing the environmental impact of its life cycle. Dekton® offers a 25 year warranty.

The Sensa exclusive stain protection, called Senguard NK, is applied by means of a chemical bonding process, providing invisible protection that enables the natural stone to breathe. The treatment works by preventing penetration by any type of liquid into the granite, meaning that properties of the stone, such as its color, quality and finish, remain unaltered for longer, and that the resulting protection is better.


What are the benefits to our readers who are interested in using your material: price, durability, aesthetics?

“Each of our brands has unique features and advantages that make them a great choice for indoor or outdoor projects. Silestone by Cosentino, our world-leading brand of quartz surfaces, is a material made of 90 percent natural quartz. Silestone surfaces are highly stain, impact, and scratch resistant, as well as having a low liquid absorption rate. I would chose this surface for indoor kitchen or bath projects.

“Dekton is also highly resistant to scratching and abrasion, it has very low porosity and therefore almost non-existent water absorption and maximum resistance to stains. This product is becoming increasingly popular in kitchens, as well.

“For those who prefer to go with natural stone, Our Sensa line of sealed and protected granite and quartzite stone comes with a 15 year warranty.”

In a Miami, Florida, park, Cosentino & Pininfarina created a display of unique sculptural forms using Dekton® and natural stone.

In a Miami, Florida, park, Cosentino & Pininfarina created a display of unique sculptural forms using Dekton® and natural stone.



What notable past or current large-scale projects using your material?

“We are proud to say many large projects around the world include Silestone, Dekton and Sensa, including indoor and outdoor spaces. The St. Jude Dream Home project in Charlotte is one recent project that combines Silestone and Dekton in several rooms.” (See page 20 for a case study on the Charlotte, NC St. Jude Dream Home, project).


What do you see for the future of Cosentino? Any trends in large format and Ultra-compact materials?

“In the near future, I see more custom-made products, using ultra thin materials, and with higher performance. Also, I envision more realistic expressions and variety in textures and finishes. All of that combined will make these products very versatile and used in new applications not seen before.”

Eduardo Cosentino, spokesperson Cindy Crawford, Brandon Calvo, and Matt Thurston, West Coast Regional Director, Cosentino.

Eduardo Cosentino,  spokesperson Cindy Crawford, Brandon Calvo, and Matt Thurston, West Coast Regional Director, Cosentino.


Any other points you think our readers may find interesting?

“Cosentino’s focus on sustainability is worth mentioning. Cosentino is committed to building a prosperous, safe, and sustainable industry for the future. In 2019, Cosentino allocated $11.8 million USD to the start-up of assets related to our environmental management, and $9.1 million USD to environmental expenses. Cosentino also increased waste recycling rate by 30 percent, compared to 2018 levels, in the Cantoria Industrial Park. We’ve just completed our first year operating our own non-hazardous waste treatment and recovery plant.

“For example: as a result of our commitment, Cosentino Group has reached several milestones like the daily reuse of 70,000m3 water to achieve a “0” Water Discharge assessment. And consumption of 100 percent certified renewable electric energy, all in the recently constructed Cosentino Waste Management Plant inside the company’s industrial park.

“There are other environmental steps we are proud of: In 2016, Dekton earned the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a prestigious certification by The International EPD System. EPD certification was also obtained in 2019 for all the Silestone color range.”

Eduardo concluded, “As a multinational company, since the very beginning Cosentino Group has upheld its commitment to the local communities in which it operates. This social, voluntary and real responsibility is reflected in continued support offered through education, and training in different fields; our policies for the encouragement of equality; our community support actions; and our sponsorship of a wide range of cultural, educational and sports activities, worldwide.”

Canadian-born International supermodel Coco Rocha chose Dekton® countertops in Opera hue for her farmhouse kitchen in New York state.

Canadian-born International supermodel Coco Rocha chose Dekton® countertops in Opera hue for her farmhouse kitchen in New York state. 


“In closing, I’d like to stress that we take our corporate responsibility statement very seriously. There are three initiatives I’d like to specifically mention: the Cosentino Design Challenge promotes and encourages creativity and talent among students of design and architecture from around the world.

“Our Eduarda Justo Foundation scholarships are International graduate scholarships awarded to enable young people to pursue their studies in the world’s leading universities such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford or Columbia. Together with the United Word Colleges, two scholarships are offered each year to study the International Baccalaureate in one of this institution’s 13 centers, around the world.

And lastly, our Silestone Institute is an international platform devoted to the study and awareness of hygiene in kitchens and bathrooms, in both public and private spaces, for the purpose of promoting a healthy lifestyle. Its activity areas focus on kitchens in the home, professional kitchens and other areas related to the food industry or the hospitality sector. The institute’s Advisory Board comprises experts in different areas of food safety, professional cooking, scientific communication, cleaning products, architecture and design, and the studies on offer are open to consumers, professionals and the general public.”  


The Silestone Institute has published two editions of the “Global Kitchen” trends report: silestoneinstitute.com/en/.

See also the Cosentino St. Jude Dream Home project in this issue.