Don Mitchell to Run Pulaski

October 8, 2006  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2006 Home Meridian International, the newly merged entity of case goods importers SLF and Pulaski Furniture, brought a big industry name back to active management with the appointment of Don Mitchell as president of the Pulaski division.

Mitchell reports to Home Meridian President and Chief Executive Officer George Revington, and is responsible for sales and marketing at Pulaski, Home Meridian’s largest strategic marketing unit. The industry veteran, who resigned last week from the La-Z-Boy Inc. board of directors, was president of Ladd case goods, and continued in a similar role after La-Z-Boy acquired that company in 2000 as president of La-Z-Boy’s case goods divisions, which included at the time American of Martinsville, American Drew, Lea, Hammery, Kincaid, Pennsylvania House and Pilliod.

He resigned running La-Z-Boy case goods in 2002, but subsequently joined the La-Z-Boy board of directors. Prior to his tenure with Ladd and La-Z-Boy, Mitchell was president of Universal Furniture’s U.S. operations during that company’s rapid growth in the late 1990s. During his career, Mitchell oversaw some of the most successful licensing agreements in the industry, including Alexander Julian at Universal; and Jessica McClintock and Bob Mackey at American Drew.

“We are very pleased to have Don join us at Pulaski Furniture,” Revington said. “He has a long history of leading aggressive marketing companies and has always had a great eye for product.”

Mitchell said he’s glad to return to active management in the furniture business.

“The furniture industry is my passion and I’m very excited to be actively involved in it again,” he said. “Home Meridian International has the best, low-cost, global business model and a clear vision for growth. I look forward to working with the talented team they have assembled and helping take this company to the next level.”

Home Meridian also has hired another familiar industry executive, Lamont Hope, as vice president of operations at Pulaski. Hope also will be responsible for all U.S. supply-chain, distribution, and manufacturing functions at Home Meridian. He reports to Doug Townsend, senior vice president of U.S. operations.

“Lamont brings a long history of success and experience in manufacturing, distribution, sourcing and information systems to Pulaski and Home Meridian International,” Revinton said. “He will be instrumental in benchmarking and integrating SLF’s and Pulaski’s global operating systems.”

Most recently, Hope was senior vice president of procurement at Berkline Benchcraft. His prior career experience includes serving as president of La-Z-Boy Global, president of Lea Industries, and vice president/general manager of Universal’s bedroom manufacturing division in Morristown, Tenn., which, at the time, employed more than 1,100 people.

“For some time now, I have admired both the people at Home Meridian and their business model,” Hope said. “Their global strategy is the right approach at the right time and I am glad to be part of this organization.”

Home Meridian International also announced other organizational changes. Doug Townsend has assumed the position of senior vice president of U.S. operations for the parent company. He is responsible for the operations of all four of Home Meridian International’s strategic marketing units, which include Pulaski, SLF, Creations, and Solutions.

Sekar Sundararajan has been named senior vice president of business development for Home Meridian International, with responsibility for the development and integration of the company’s core global business systems and the creation of new strategic marketing units.

“Home Meridian is committed to the constant improvement of our business model and the recruitment and promotion of the best people, allowing us to provide our customers with outstanding products and service,” Revington said.