Leggett & Platt Announces Promotions Tied To Innovation Initiative

March 11, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on March 2007 Leggett & Platt, Carthage, Mo., announced two promotions Friday as part of a new innovation strategy designed to drive the company’s growth.

Niels Mossback was promoted to senior director of advanced technology, with responsibilities for developing new products and technologies across the corporation. He had been segment vice president of product development for the residential furnishings segment. Tom Wells has been named director of engineering strategy and technical support. Wells, who had been group vice president and director of R&D for the bedding group, will work closely with segment development directors to identify growth opportunities. He also will be responsible for the development of strategic partnerships.

“L&P’s future success in the global marketplace will depend heavily on our ability to leverage our broad and deep resources, especially in the critical area of product development,” said Vincent Lyons, vice president of engineering and product development and president of the Machinery and Technology Group.

The new strategy called Worldwide Innovation Network70/30 is based on the expectation that 70 percent of new innovations come from within the company, and the balance will come from external sources, including input from inventors and partnerships. One element of WIN 70/30 is link on the company’s Web site, www.leggett.com, where individuals can submit ideas. The company also created a 12-person engineering council to evaluate innovative ideas and identify opportunities across the company that manufactures furniture and bedding components, retail store fixtures, automotive seating, carpet underlay and bedding industry machinery.