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Laura Ashley Appoints New President

Furniture World Magazine

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Laura Ashley, Inc. announced that Kwan C Ng has been named president of the company and will oversee the licensing operations and business strategy for North and South America. He officially takes office on October 1. Ng replaces Lawrence Chai who retires on September 30.
 
Ng, 61 was formerly CEO of Laura Ashley Holdings, PLC in London and has an intimate understanding of the iconic brand and its product lines. During the five-years he led the company tenure, he grew the company by expanding the company’s home furnishings division and revamping the brand image. In 2003 he left to assume the helm of global bath and home products brand Crabtree and Evelyn. Ng got his start in retail management with Metroyaya, a retail group in Malaysia that owns a number of department and specialty stores and supermarket chains. “His experience in the retail industry on a global scale will provide us with valuable direction as we continue to grow Laura Ashley’s business in North America and expand into South America,” said General Manager Penne Cairoli.
 
“The Laura Ashley team and U.S. licensees have made significant strides moving the brand forward, while staying true to its heritage,” said Ng. “I plan to build on that momentum, providing insight for expanding our distribution and product offering.”
 
Laura Ashley, Inc., headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C., concentrates on licensing the Laura Ashley® brand name in North and South America. The company strives to be the ultimate destination brand for women’s wear, and children’s wear and home furnishings. Current licensees include Bon Ton, Russell-Newman, Inc., Revman International and Kincaid Furniture. For additional information visit www.lauraashley-usa.com.