Hooker Furniture Reorganizes Upholstery Operations

Furniture World Magazine

Hooker Furniture announced that it has reorganized its upholstery companies, Bradington-Young and Sam Moore, under the executive leadership of Alan Cole, who has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Hooker Furniture Upholstery. In this new position, Cole will function as President of both Bradington-Young and Sam Moore and direct the management teams of each company. The upholstery companies will continue to operate primarily as distinct operations. "Bradington-Young and Sam Moore are well known and well respected companies in our industry, and they have great strategic and long term importance to the future of Hooker Furniture," said Paul Toms, chairman and chief executive officer of Hooker Furniture. "Each upholstery company serves distinct and unique niches and needs to maintain its emphasis on its target customers and specialized product lines. Under Alan's leadership, each team will aggressively focus on market share growth and opportunities for product expansion in its areas of expertise." Cole joined Hooker in 2007 as Executive Vice President-Upholstery Operations, responsible for Bradington-Young and newly acquired Sam Moore. In January 2008, Cole assumed direct leadership of Bradington-Young when former Chief Executive Officer Scott Young moved to Senior Vice President - Merchandising and Product Development. "Bradington-Young and Sam Moore are great companies with solid management teams," Cole said. "The challenges of the economic downturn and the rapidly changing environment in our industry require us to constantly find new and better ways to serve our markets, while retaining the core strengths that have made these companies successful for many years." As part of the reorganization, Craig Young has been promoted to Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing, at Bradington-Young. In this role, Young will assume a larger responsibility in the strategic direction of Bradington-Young, and in its daily operations. As a result of the reorganization, Mike Moldenhauer, who had served as president of Sam Moore, is no longer with the company. Also as a result of the reorganization, Erin Dooley, previously vice president - merchandising of Sam Moore, is no longer with the company. Cole will maintain an office at Sam Moore's Bedford, Va. headquarters. Prior to joining Hooker last year, Cole was President and Chief Executive Officer of Schnadig Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of a full line of medium-priced home furnishings, from 2004 to 2006. He also served previously in senior executive positions at upholstery manufacturer Berkline and at Lifestyle Furnishings International. He was a member of Hooker Furniture's Board of Directors in 2003. Ranked among the nation's top 10 largest publicly traded furniture sources based on 2007 shipments to U.S. retailers, Hooker Furniture is an 84-year old residential wood, metal and upholstered furniture resource. The Company's principal customers are home furnishings retailers who are broadly dispersed throughout North America. Major wood furniture product categories include home entertainment, home office, accent, dining, bedroom and bath furniture sold under the Hooker Furniture brand, and youth bedroom furniture sold under the Opus Designs brand. Hooker's residential seating companies include Cherryville, N.C.-based Bradington-Young, a specialist in upscale motion and stationary leather furniture, and Bedford, Va.-based Sam Moore Furniture, a specialist in upscale occasional chairs with an emphasis on cover-to-frame customization.