Harvey Dondero to Resign CEO Post at Las Vegas Market

August 15, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on August 2007 Harvey Dondero is resigning his post as chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Market to run a leading brand with “a global furniture manufacturer,” according to a release issued by the World Market Center.

The release said the furniture manufacturer would make an official announcement next week. Dondero will be joining Paul Maitland International.

Dondero joined World Market Center in October after leaving his post as president and chief executive officer of Broyhill in June 2006. Prior to Broyhill, Dondero was with Universal Furniture, and before that he was at Maitland-Smith. Interestingly, Theodore Alexander was started in 1996 by Paul Maitland-Smith.

Dondero will continue to serve as an adviser to World Market Center under a long-term arrangement and will participate at advisory board meetings as it “continues to complete its total vision of building the world’s largest market and trade complex in Las Vegas, all dedicated to the home furnishings industry,” the release said.

“Harvey brought a tremendous amount of insight to World Market Center as a veteran of the furniture industry,” said Jack Kashani and Sean Samson, WMC managing partners. “His leadership has been invaluable over the past several years as a former tenant of World Market Center, an advisory board member and most recently as our CEO.”

The partners credited Dondero with shepherding the market center’s growth.

“I am privileged to be a part of such a dynamic project that I know will continue to be an important force for the home furnishings industry,” Dondero said. “The developers have demonstrated a remarkable vision and have amassed an incredible team of professionals that will continue to ensure World Market Center’s success in the future. It’s also great to have the opportunity to continue to provide my advice to World Market Center as a special adviser, as this remarkable project continues to evolve. I have truly enjoyed the dynamics involved in running a market and significant real estate enterprise.”

World Market Center has hired an international search company to find a successor for Dondero. In the interim, the executive team of Kashani, Samson, Ron Wackrow and Michael Brenner, both of The Related Cos., will continue to oversee the growing project.