Magnussen Presidential Announces Promotion Of Jeff Cook To Chief Executive Officer

Furniture World Magazine

Magnussen Presidential Furniture Co. has named Jeff Cook chief executive officer. He will continue as president, as well. Cook, who joined Magnussen as president in 1998, has helped direct the company's phenomenal growth in recent years, says Richard Magnussen, Magnussen Presidential chairman. "During the past three years, Jeff and our management team have done an excellent job of increasing sales while reducing operating costs as a percentage of sales," Magnussen says. "Jeff plans to continue that growth, while offering our customers great value and service beyond the expected." As chairman, Magnussen will continue to be involved in the strategic direction of the company and will oversee the introduction of new furniture categories. "I'm looking forward to working with Jeff as we roll out a full line of Magnussen Presidential furniture," he says. “My time with Magnussen has been the most rewarding experience in my business career,” Cook says. “The entire focus of the company is to enrich lives, of our customers’ expectations in all that we do, in building strong partnerships with our vendors, and by creating a truly magical environment for our employees. This is a company with a sound foundation built on our core values of trust, honesty and respect. Cook has gained a wealth of experience during his 25-year career in the home furnishings industry. Prior to joining Magnussen in 1999, Cook was senior vice president of sales and marketing for Sumter Cabinet Company. Other positions have included senior vice president, sales and marketing, for Lea Industries; general manager of the Design Horizons division of Lea; and national sales manager for the RTA furniture division of Soundesign Corp. Cook also has held senior sales and marketing positions at Case-Casard, Decotone and Rowe Furniture. Cook is a member of the Board of Governors of WITHIT (Women in the Home Furnishings Industries) and is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C. He lives in Greensboro, N.C., with his wife, Janet, and their two children. Magnussen Presidential Furniture Co. designs, imports and distributes medium- and upper medium-priced occasional tables, accent furniture and case goods across all style categories for retailers around the world. The company brings nearly 20 years of experience with offshore sourcing focused on quality control of state-of-the-art technology, workmanship, finishing and timely delivery. As a result, the Magnussen Express Program delivers products domestically within five working days to participating retailers in the United States and Canada. Based in New Hamburg, Ontario, the 71-year-old company operates its U.S. division from High Point, N.C.