Tom McLean Promoted to EVP at Kingsdown

March 4, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on March 2007 Tom McLean has been promoted to executive vice president of Sleep to Live, the new education initiative of bedding manufacturer Kingsdown Inc., Mebane, N.C.

McLean, who has been with Kingsdown for more than 35 years, previously was senior vice president.

In this new position, McLean will serve as the Sleep to Live spokesperson with an increased emphasis on educating retailers, corporations and the general public about the importance of healthy sleep.

“Kingsdown believes strongly in the tremendous health benefits of sleep, as well as the negative consequences of sleep deprivation,” said Eric Hinshaw, Kingsdown chairman and chief executive officer in an announcement. “As one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on the subject, his passion is sleep education and sharing information on the value of getting a good night’s sleep.”

“Fifteen years ago there wasn’t any research available on sleep and how it relates to the sleep surface,” McLean said. “We at Kingsdown searched and found empirical data that led to our own sleep studies, from which we discovered that sleeping in one position for an extended period of time allows a person to fall into the deeper stages of sleep, causing them to feel more rested upon waking the next morning.”

During his tenure with Kingsdown, McLean has served the bedding industry by working on numerous committees for the International Sleep Products Association, including six years on the Consumer Products Safety Council, four years on the Product Safety Committee for flammability and 12 years on the board of directors for the Better Sleep Council. Currently, he is vice chairman of the executive board for the Better Sleep Council.

McLean has been instrumental in expanding the international division of Kingsdown which has grown to include 25 countries. He has educated retail salespeople in 12 countries about the importance and benefits of quality sleep.

Since 1985, McLean has been actively involved with sleep research initiatives and product development at Kingsdown. He has worked with doctors, medical technicians and biomechanical engineers from across the country. He is the co-patent holder of the Automatic Mattress Selection System and is in the process of obtaining additional patents.

“We at Kingsdown believe that the more people come to understand and appreciate the health consequences associated with sleep, the greater priority they will put on choosing a custom, quality sleep system,” Hinshaw said. “Tom’s work as a spokesperson for Sleep to Live will benefit not only Kingsdown and the mattress industry, but people around the world.”