Bassett Names Matt Johnson to Head Restructured Sales Team

October 6, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Executive Changes, Industry   

“In order to support our plans to grow our business with traditional furniture retailers, we have made a series of moves designed to strengthen our sales organization,” said Robert H. Spilman Jr., chairman and CEO.  “We welcome new talent to Bassett to work with our established staff to better serve our reps and our dealers.”

Most recently, Johnson was responsible for launching and growing the open market HGTV Home Design Studio galleries.  Prior to that, he was vice president of product development in addition to other sales manager roles.  He will report to Bruce Cohenour, senior vice president of sales and merchandising.

Other key sales posts include:

• Layne Koldewyn has joined the company as director of sales, western division.  He will be based in Dallas and work with accounts west of the Mississippi. Prior to joining Bassett, Koldewyn was a senior key account manager with Tempur Sealy International.  
• Tom Prato, who has been with Bassett for 30 years, has been named vice president of sales, eastern division.  He will be responsible for accounts east of the Mississippi. Prato has served in numerous sales roles with the company.
• Kelly Hill has been named national design manager.  She was previously a sales representative selling the Bassett brand to trade accounts in the Carolinas.  Hill will be charged with rolling out a national program geared towards design firms centered around customization.

Koldewyn, Prato and Hill will report to Johnson.  

In addition, Gabe Cochrane has been promoted to director of national accounts, and Susan Barbour has been promoted to director of sales operations.

Cochrane was previously a Bassett sales representative for the last seven years. In his new post, he will work with strategic accounts to develop selling programs. 

Since joining Bassett in 1988, Barbour has served in various roles, including operations administrator, national accounts manager and product coordinator.  

Cochrane and Barbour will report to Cohenour.

“By restructuring the sales organization, we intend to increase our focus on our growing open market accounts and leverage our core domestic programs in wood and upholstery programs in helping them grow their business,” said Cohenour.