Simmons Company Appoints Former Ladd CFO As New Chief Financial Officer: William S. Creekmuir

Furniture World Magazine

Simmons Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded bedding products, announced the appointment of William S. Creekmuir, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of LADD Furniture, to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Creekmuir, 44, will report directly to Charles R. Eitel, Simmons' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Simmons is executing a major transformation to achieve industry leadership," said Mr. Eitel. "Bill's outstanding contributions to LADD's corporate re-engineering were integral to its emergence as an industry leader and those skills will be extremely useful as we drive to enhance the Company's effectiveness." "We have made a number of key management appointments in the last several months to ensure that we will have the talent to realize our ambitious growth goals. Bill's appointment is a great addition to the team," continued Mr. Eitel. Recognized for his leadership role in the restructuring of LADD, Mr. Creekmuir had responsibility for a variety of functions in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer, including: corporate accounting and treasury services; investor relations; IT systems; internal audit; human resources; legal; transportation; and international sales. Prior to joining LADD, Mr. Creekmuir was a partner of KPMG Peat Marwick, where he held numerous positions during his 15 year tenure at the firm, including leader of the furniture manufacturing segment of the firm's national manufacturing practice. Maker of Beautyrest,, BackCare,, Connoisseur,, Atlanta-based Simmons Company employs more than 2,500 people and operates 18 plants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Simmons is committed to helping consumers attain a higher quality of sleep and supports that mission through its Better Sleep Through Science' philosophy, which includes developing superior mattresses and promoting a sound, smart sleep routine. For more information, consumers and customers can visit the company's Web site at www.simmons.com.